Delays in the transfer of mosquito surveillance data from paper-based field collection records to an electronic database can prevent the timely completion of data analyses. These indices can be used to guide the need for control efforts and to evaluate the impact of a vector control intervention. aegypti, which exploits artificial containers as larval development sites ( Focks and Alexander 2006), commonly focuses on the immature larval and pupal life stages, for which a series of surveillance indices have been developed to estimate abundance ( Focks 2004, WHO 2009). Because a commercially available vaccine against dengue virus is still lacking, control of the mosquito vector is the primary means to prevent and control dengue outbreaks ( WHO 2009). Dengue virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, principally Aedes aegypti L., and maintained in a human–mosquito cycle ( Halstead 2008). 2011), is dependent upon timely analysis of collected surveillance data and rapid response. The cost-effectiveness of using the Chaak system will depend largely on the up-front cost of purchasing cell phones and the recurring cost of data transfer over a cellular network.Įffective control of neglected tropical diseases with explosive outbreak dynamics, such as dengue ( Kan et al. Compared with a pen-and-paper-based method, use of Chaak improved the accuracy and increased the speed of data transcription into an electronic database. Spatial data are handled in a novel, semantically driven, geographic information system. Data collected on the cell phone can be transferred to a central database through different modes of transmission, including near-real time where data are transferred immediately (e.g., over the Internet) or by first storing data on the cell phone for future transmission. ![]() Chaak includes a desktop component, where a manager selects premises to be surveyed for mosquito immatures, and a cell phone component, where the surveyor receives the assigned tasks and captures the data. ![]() We focused on mosquito-borne dengue, with the primary aims of: 1) developing and field-testing a cell phone-based system (called Chaak) for capture of data relating to the surveillance of the mosquito immature stages, and 2) assessing, in the dengue endemic setting of Mérida, México, the cost-effectiveness of this new technology versus paper-based data collection. ![]() Mobile data capture is used increasingly for malaria surveillance and holds great promise for surveillance of other neglected tropical diseases. Capture of surveillance data on mobile devices and rapid transfer of such data from these devices into an electronic database or data management and decision support systems promote timely data analyses and public health response during disease outbreaks.
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