A view of Central Africa (Image by Eumetsat)

Ebola virus causes a haemorrhagic fever which is swiftly lethal in up to 70% of cases.

Scientists believe that there are probably natural "reservoirs" for the virus - such as animals which carry it but do not get ill - in Central African countries such as Gabon and DR Congo.

Outbreaks in humans are triggered when people come into contact with these animals near their communities.

However, the search for such reservoirs is hampered by the vast areas of remote terrain that must be examined.

Satellite technology could help, say local experts.

The International Centre for Medical Research, based in Gabon, is combing data from European Space Agency (Esa) satellites in an attempt to narrow the search.

Common features

Researchers are looking to see whether areas in which there have been Ebola outbreaks share common ecological or environmental features.

If they do, then the satellite data could help pick out other suspect areas, so that scientists can go into these areas and carry out blood tests on animals they capture.

Ghislain Moussavou, of CIRMF, said: "It is not possible to test the blood of animals throughout the global target area - about 400 square kilometres of jungle - but it will be helpful to concentrate the efforts of teams collecting animals at these sites.

"In Gabon and Congo, we have observed an annual periodicity of Ebola outbreaks.

"This suggests particular ecological conditions characterise the reservoir host habitat."

Malaria mapping

Jean-Pierre Meert, of the World Health Organisation, said satellite mapping could help health workers in many different ways.

He said: "Local maps are often 30 years out of date, so we've asked for high-resolution images of cities from Casablanca in Morocco to Vientiane in Laos, to help us plan better medical responses such as locating urban clinics.

"We also hope to keep better track of nomadic peoples, so we're better placed to provide them with medical help."