Harnessing Technology for Vector-Borne Disease Control in Desert Terrain: Experiences from a Frontier Station

A BSTRACT Introduction: Malaria is a major vector-borne disease in many parts of the world. The elimination of vector breeding sites remains a significant challenge in malaria control programs. The World Health Organisation (WHO) marked World Malaria Day 2022 with the theme “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives.”. In line with this, we explored the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for effective malaria surveillance. This feasibility project—the first of its kind —implemented multimodal surveillance using various UAV types across a large military station in western India. Methods: This observational study was conducted during a malaria endemic season between October and December 2022. Areas reporting clusters of malaria cases were mapped. Satellite imagery was then used for preliminary landscape assessment. UAVs were deployed to identify breeding sites, utilising imaging systems such as Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) and standard day-mode cameras. Results: The UAVs identified 43 open overhead water tanks and 17 waterlogged sites as potential mosquito breeding grounds. Manual verification confirmed that 88% of these sites were indeed breeding grounds. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that malaria control can be enhanced through innovative technologies and multi-sectoral collaboration. The use of UAVs—both Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) types and quadcopters—proved effective in identifying breeding sites rapidly and with reasonable precision, while also reducing manpower requirements. This pilot project highlights the feasibility and promise of UAV deployment in vector control efforts. Categories: Public Health, Epidemiology/Public Health, Healthcare Technology.