Can space-based technologies help manage and prevent pandemics?

Earth Observation Epidemiology or tele-epidemiology is defined as ‘using space technology with remote sensing in epidemiology. It is a useful tool that is increasingly being used by clinicians and stakeholders for zoonotic infections1,2,4. Tele-epidemiology helped map out the spread of the Ebola virus among animals and can be used for risk mapping, risk communication and identifying vulnerable populations. Similarly, geographic information science technology can improve the understanding and control of COVID-19 through surveillance, data sharing, digital contact tracing and investigation of risk factors and infectious disease forecasting