EbolaTracks: an automated SMS system for monitoring persons potentially exposed to Ebola virus disease

L E Tracey; A K Regan; P K Armstrong; G K Dowse; P V Effler

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES2015.20.1.20999

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EbolaTracks: an automated SMS system for monitoring persons potentially exposed to Ebola virus disease

L E Tracey¹, A K Regan¹, P K Armstrong¹, G K Dowse¹, P V Effler¹
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Affiliations: ¹ Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Correspondence:
L Tracey
lauren.tracey health.wa.gov.au
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Citation style for this article: Tracey L E, Regan A K, Armstrong P K, Dowse G K, Effler P V. EbolaTracks: an automated SMS system for monitoring persons potentially exposed to Ebola virus disease. Euro Surveill. 2015;20(1):pii=20999. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2015.20.1.20999 Received: 16 Dec 2014

Abstract

We report development and implementation of a short message service (SMS)-based system to facilitate active monitoring of persons potentially exposed to Ebola virus disease (EVD), whether returning from EVD-affected countries, or contacts of local cases, should they occur. The system solicits information on symptoms and temperature twice daily. We demonstrated proof-of-concept; however this system would likely be even more useful where there are many local contacts to confirmed EVD cases or travellers from EVD-affected countries.