Interactive Health Information System to Detect Japanese Encephalitis

This programme is based on the use of technology to develop surveillance networks to allow district-level health officials to respond quickly to reported cases and readily identify outbreaks - even in remote areas. Voxiva has developed a phone- and web-based information system that uses existing communications infrastructure (e.g., mobile, pay, and land-based phones) to share timely data quickly and easily. Health workers can use any phone to report confirmed and suspected cases of JE.

In addition to the telephone, computers are a key communication tool. All reported information is entered into a central database. Health officials may log into the system via the web and can use the system's analytic tools to evaluate trends, identify outbreaks, and deploy appropriate resources. Health managers can also use the system to analyse information about confirmed or suspected JE cases, sharing technical information and resources with health workers. This computerised system is designed to allow health managers to work collaboratively - and at all levels of the health system - on disease prevention and control with international experts working on diagnostics, vaccine development and introduction, and clinical treatment.

Health, Children, Immunisation & Vaccines.

A close relative of the West Nile virus, JE is a disabling and often fatal mosquito-spread disease that mostly strikes children under age 15 in Asian countries. Up to 70% of those who develop illness either die or suffer a long-term neurological disability. JE has infected about 10 million children, killing 3 million and causing long-term disability in 4 million more. JE vaccine was introduced in 1941, but it still is not widely available in many affected countries. JE control has been hindered by poor surveillance, limited and unstable vaccine supply, lack of guidance and programmatic support for JE immunisation, and low political awareness of the disease.

One of the cornerstones of PATH's JE Project is to improve clinical surveillance of JE so that health officials can fully understand the magnitude of the problem and target resources strategically based on disease burden. The JE Project also intends to increase the availability of a safe and effective vaccine to eventually rid the region of this disease. PATH believes that the Voxiva system is able to quickly spread the word about new vaccines as they become available.

Organisers comment that, based on the progress of this pilot, the system could be adopted for national use in India or for other diseases of interest, and ultimately improve national and subregional disease surveillance networks in other parts of Asia.