Objective To evaluate the feasibility of applying Google Earth software to spatial epidemiological analysis of new autochthonous malaria cases. Methods The epidemic data of all new autochthonous malaria cases during 2007-2011 in Shanxian county of Shandong province, China were collected and used as underlying data. Patients’ residences and the major river systems where malaria vector mosquitoes bred in Shanxian county were positioned via a GIS data collector. An integral database of malaria was constructed by batch inputting or importing of above data into Google Earth Free 7.1 software. Results The map database of new autochthonous cases in Shanxian county was constructed on the background of Google Earth satellite imagery. The spatio?temporal distribution of malaria cases was clearly shown in the 3D window. Zooming in and out at special epidemic foci and display of the foci were supported. Landforms surrounding the epidemic spots and distribution of river systems where mosquito vectors bred could be directly exhibited. Conclusion Based on precise positioning with global positioning system and visual display with Google Earth, the satellite imagery map database of malaria can be used in the analysis of spatial distribution of infectious diseases such as malaria and its relationship with the surrounding geographical factors.