The Thai government will use the satellites of the National Aeronautical Space Administration ( nasa ) to assess the spread of the country's worst outbreak of malaria in five years. The satellites will be used for surveying malaria-affected regions. The number of patients affected by the disease has increased tenfold this year as compared to previous years. "The situation is extremely serious. We have set up a special centre to closely monitor the epidemic,' said Surapong Suebwonglee, the country's deputy public health minister.