Journal article
A data platform to improve rabies prevention, Sri Lanka.
- Abstract:
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Problem
In Sri Lanka, rabies prevention initiatives are hindered by fragmented and delayed information-sharing that limits clinicians’ ability to follow patients and impedes public health surveillance.
Approach
In a project led by the health ministry, we adapted existing technologies to create an electronic platform for rabies surveillance. Information is entered by trained clinical staff, and both aggregate and individual patient data are visualized in real time. An automated short message system (SMS) alerts patients for vaccination follow-up appointments and informs public health inspectors about incidents of animal bites.
Local setting
The platform was rolled out in June 2016 in four districts of Sri Lanka, linking six rabies clinics, three laboratories and the public health inspectorate.
Relevant changes
Over a 9-month period, 12 121 animal bites were reported to clinics and entered in the registry. Via secure portals, clinicians and public health teams accessed live information on treatment and outcomes of patients started on post-exposure prophylaxis (9507) or receiving deferred treatment (2614). Laboratories rapidly communicated the results of rabies virus tests on dead mammals (328/907 positive). In two pilot districts SMS reminders were sent to 1376 (71.2%) of 1933 patients whose contact details were available. Daily SMS reports alerted 17 public health inspectors to bite incidents in their area for investigation.
Lessons learnt
Existing technologies in low-resource countries can be harnessed to improve public health surveillance. Investment is needed in platform development and training and support for front-line staff. Greater public engagement is needed to improve completeness of surveillance and treatment.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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Access Document
- Files:
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(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 376.7KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.2471/blt.16.188060
Authors
- Publisher:
- World Health Organization
- Journal:
- Bulletin of the World Health Organization More from this journal
- Volume:
- 95
- Issue:
- 9
- Pages:
- 646-651
- Publication date:
- 2017-05-01
- Acceptance date:
- 2017-04-06
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1564-0604
- ISSN:
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0042-9686
- Pmid:
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28867845
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
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pubs:725985
- UUID:
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uuid:e245e8e6-b359-443b-b9a0-e671fe821ac2
- Local pid:
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pubs:725985
- Source identifiers:
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725985
- Deposit date:
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2018-02-12
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Dondorp et al
- Copyright date:
- 2017
- Notes:
- © 2017 The Authors; licensee the World Health Organization. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution IGO License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/legalcode), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. In any reproduction of this article there should not be any suggestion that WHO or this article endorse any specific organization, products or services. The use of the WHO logo is not permitted. This notice should be preserved along with the article's original URL.
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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