The Establishment and Application of Mobile Electronic Surveillance System for Infectious Diseases with the Help of China — Sierra Leone, 2016-Present

Abstract

Introduction: Infectious disease surveillance has long been a challenge for low-income countries like Sierra Leone. Traditional approaches based on paper and Short Message Service (SMS) were subject to severe delays in obtaining, transmitting, and analyzing information.Methods: During the China aid operation for fighting Ebola since the end of 2014, a mobile electronic surveillance system for infectious diseases (MESSID) was developed in collaboration with the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), which comprised an Android-based reporting system and a complementary web-based program designed by Active Server Page.NET (ASP.NET) with the main functions including surveillance, real-time reporting, and risk assessment of infectious diseases.Results: MESSID was successfully registered in June 2016 and had been used by all medical and health institutions in RSLAF. From June 1, 2016 to July 5, 2021, 34,419 cases were diagnosed with 47 infectious diseases of 5 categories, with a total of 42 clinical symptoms. Compared to traditional approaches based on paper and SMS, the MESSID showed flexibility, high efficiency, convenience, and acceptability.Discussion: MESSID is an accessible tool for surveillance of infectious diseases in Sierra Leone and possibly in other African countries with similar needs, capable of improving timeliness of disease reporting, thus rendering a timely outbreak detection and response. METHODS System StructureThe development of MESSID system was primarily China CDC Weekly Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention CCDC Weekly / Vol. 3 / No. 36

Components of Health Surveillance System in Natural Disasters that Affect Military Health Services: A Systematic Review

“…Structural components included Health monitoring ( 20 , 25 – 29 ), detecting of health risk ( 25 , 27 , 28 , 30 – 32 ), data collection system and reporting ( 23 , 25 , 31 , 33 , 34 ), tracking health risks ( 26 , 29 , 32 , 35 ) and choosing the type of surveillance system appropriate for the natural disasters ( 25 , 26 , 36 – 38 ).…”

“…The most effective operational components were operational readiness ( 20 , 28 , 31 , 35 , 37 ), interaction of military health surveillance system with civil surveillance system ( 35 ), coordination of military health surveillance system with national health surveillance system in natural disasters ( 29 , 39 ), feasibility ( 27 , 29 , 33 , 39 ), flexibility ( 20 , 27 , 33 ) and acceptability ( 27 , 33 ).…”

“…Health surveillance systems with a simple and transparent process of data collection and reporting has been introduced as systems that are more efficient during natural disasters ( 22 , 33 , 45 ). The use of electronic surveillance systems, mobile electronic surveillance system and mobile applications over the recent years has facilitated the collection of data on occurrence, prevalence and management of health databases ( 33 ). During the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic in Africa, many cases were diagnosed by military medical mobile electronic surveillance system ( 33 ).…”

“…The use of electronic surveillance systems, mobile electronic surveillance system and mobile applications over the recent years has facilitated the collection of data on occurrence, prevalence and management of health databases ( 33 ). During the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic in Africa, many cases were diagnosed by military medical mobile electronic surveillance system ( 33 ).…”

“…Laboratories and facilities ready for emergencies is another component of operational readiness ( 24 , 33 ). Military service laboratories are considered as well-equipped diagnostic laboratories due to their readiness for biological threats.…”