From satellites in a low Earth orbit to predictive modeling software and geographic information systems, technology has taken a prominent role in the fight against West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne infectious diseases.

Experts are harnessing information technology to control pesticide spraying, provide online reporting capabilities and electronically exchange information among federal, state and local government officials. Local inspectors now carry personal digital assistants to record the latitude and longitude of possible mosquito breeding areas while NASA officials provide satellite observations to help forecast high-risk areas for mosquito-borne diseases.