Abstract
Dengue fever incidence and its geographical distribution are increasing throughout the world. Quality and timely information is essential for its prevention and control. A web based, geographically enabled, dengue integral surveillance system (Dengue-GIS) was developed for the nation-wide collection, integration, analysis and reporting of geo-referenced epidemiologic, entomologic, and control interventions data. Consensus in the design and practical operation of the system was a key factor for its acceptance. Working with information systems already implemented as a starting point facilitated its acceptance by officials and operative personnel. Dengue-GIS provides the geographical detail needed to plan, asses and evaluate the impact of control activities. The system is beginning to be adopted as a knowledge base by vector control programs. It is used to generate evidence on impact and cost-effectiveness of control activities, promoting the use of information for decision making at all levels of the vector control program. Dengue-GIS has also been used as a hypothesis generator for the academic community. This GIS-based model system for dengue surveillance and the experience gathered during its development and implementation could be useful in other dengue endemic countries and extended to other infectious or chronic diseases.
Highlights
Dengue Fever (DF) is caused by the infection with four subtypes of Dengue virus and sometimes progresses to a severe and potentially deadly condition (Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, DHF)
Epidemiological Surveillance According to Mexican official norms, epidemiologic data on dengue patients is entered into the surveillance system within one week after the patient’s first contact with the health system and it is reported by epidemiological week
The main features of Dengue-Geographical Information System technology (GIS) is its seamless capability to integrate, in an interoperable web based platform, the basic information needed for problem appraisal and control planning, which is readily available to users at all levels of the control program scaffold
Summary
Dengue Fever (DF) is caused by the infection with four subtypes of Dengue virus and sometimes progresses to a severe and potentially deadly condition (Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, DHF). Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus). The only public health strategy available for dengue control is directed against the mosquito vector populations. Effective control strategies require the intervention of multiple agencies within the health and other government sectors [4]. The lack of reliable and timely data useful to the different decision and operative components and levels of the control programs is the most important shortcoming in dengue control. For this purpose, national electronic reporting systems were recommended for surveillance, early detection and prediction of outbreaks [5]
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