Introduction
Earth Observation (EO) technology provides powerful tools for mapping health-related risks by monitoring environmental indicators that influence public health, such as vegetation, floods, and extreme heat events. Its wide spatial coverage, consistent monitoring, and access to historical data enable the identification of areas where environmental conditions may promote the spread of health issues, including vector-borne and waterborne diseases. By analyzing historical trends, EO improves understanding of patterns affecting health outcomes and supports accurate predictions of future risks. This information helps public health officials and infrastructure managers detect vulnerable areas, assess risks to population health, prioritize interventions, and implement cost-effective, proactive strategies to mitigate health hazards linked to environmental changes.
This portal offers access to two specialized services focused on vector-borne and waterborne diseases:
- A West Nile Virus circulation forecast that highlights areas likely to experience virus activity. This forecast combines environmental satellite observations—including temperature, vegetation, and precipitation proxies—with epidemiological and mosquito ecology models to estimate locations where conditions favor mosquito survival and viral transmission.
- A Baltic Sea Vibrio risk map showing regions with favorable conditions for Non-Cholera Vibrio growth. Covering the period from approximately 1995 to 2019, this time-series integrates historical sea surface temperature data (from satellites and reanalyses) with ecological thresholds for Vibrio proliferation, identifying when and where public health risks related to seawater exposure or seafood consumption are elevated.
These services are part of the ESA project EO4Health Resilience, itself a key component of the broader EO4Health initiative led by the agency. More information about this project and the wider initiative is available at:
