Malaria is an infectious disease of global concern. Malaria surveillance is critical for tracking spatio-temporal patterns in disease incidence. Surveillance aids towards detailing, recording, and analyzing the incidence of malaria infections in endemic regions. In the current study, a mobile health application – “FeverTracker”, integrated surveillance graphical software and digital monitoring, was designed. The app aimed to aid the community and healthcare professionals towards malaria control and eradication. The app employs a linked GIS that includes automatic data digitization, SMS text messaging, and advisory instructions. Thus enabling real-time reporting of individual cases to the respective health authorities. In the testing phase, FeverTracker was used to monitor 1880 suspected malaria patients in 19 tribal villages in Tripura, India. With the app, malaria infection was confirmed in 122 patients. Healthcare workers performed RDT and reported P. falciparum (114/122); P. vivax (6/122), and P. falciparum/P. vivax (2/122) mixed infection. FeverTracker and other digital solutions will be crucial in integrating disease surveillance by providing fast data digitalization for downstream processing. FeverTracker also includes a customizable template for use in other disease surveillance. Applying this technology in health care and research will bolster ongoing malaria-eradication efforts.
Keywords: Data digitization, Febrile illnesses, Health system, Malaria, Mhealth App, Surveillance
Abbreviations: GIS: Geographic Information System; SMS: Short Message Service