Monitoring schistosomiasis based on remote sensing technology

Schistosomiasis is a major healthy problem in China, which is one of most badly suffered four countries in the world, and Schistosoma japonicum infection is prevalent in China. In addition, the snail is the only intermediate snail host of Schistosoma japonicum. Therefore, elimination of snail is an important measure that controls and eliminates schistosomiasis. In order to find out the distribution of snail ,control and monitor the epidemic situation, the snail situation of epidemic disease area has been investigated and researched annually, and a mass of snail ecology researches have also been taken by prevention and cure organization of schistosomiasis. However, investigating snail by traditional manual manner has its limitation and large number of manpower and material resources are used. Due to the fact that schistosomiasis and snail have close relationship with environment such as vegetation, soil humidity, temperature, altitude, hydrology and so on, remote sensing technology can be applied in monitoring these factors, accordingly in monitoring snail. Present distribution of schistosomiasis in the world, especially in China, is briefly introduced in this paper and the growth characteristic of Schistosoma japonicum and snail breed area are also analyzed. Then the feasibility of using RS technology to monitor snail is expounded and the various specialities of RS reacting differently on monitoring snail breed area is emphatically discussed. GIS, GPS and RS technologies used in schistosomiasis research are discussed, including high speed and real time of obtaining and processing the RS data, high accuracy and quantification of application. In this way, all kinds of information with surface features could be provided at real time. And it provides a new measure that fleetly confirms the location, the acreage and the spread trend of snail growth. The existing deficiencies are analyzed in the paper. At last, it probes into the development trend of the research. The paper points out exploiting a new prophylactic strategy turning passiveness to active position by combining the application of 3S(RS/GIS/GPS) new technology and the routine work of the check of snail and schistosomiasis. That is to say, exploit a policy of preventing schistosomiasis with the kernel of environment adjustment or environment control.