APPLICATION OF AVHHR-BASED ON THE VEGETATION HEALTH INDICES FOR MALARIA VECTOR DETECTION

In this study, we discuss a technique to determine the correlation between various environmental factors affecting malaria transmission and the possibility for application of remote sensing data as a proxy for monitoring the number of malaria cases. The specific area of study in Bangladesh represented 60 to 80 percent of the entire country’s malaria cases. Malaria statistics, satellite data and meteorological data were used in this study. Remote sensing data consisted of Vegetation Health Index (VHI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and Temperature Condition Index (TCI) derived from radiances, measured by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) flown on NOAA afternoon polar orbiting satellites. The investigation of factors contributing to malaria transmission was performed using correlation and regression analysis. The goal was to investigate whether vegetation health indices can be used for detection, surveillance and numerical estimate of malaria development. Regarding the seasonal dynamics, it should be emphasized that during cooler months (January–April) when mosquitoes are less active, the correlation is low. After April (week 16) when mosquito activity season starts, the correlation increases, quickly reaching maximum (0.6 for TCI and -0.5 for VCI) around week 25 (end of June). We can use satellite data to predict malaria outbreak regions globally in advance and that data allows for life-saving early intervention.