Decision support system for the response to infectious disease emergencies based on WebGIS and mobile services in China.
BACKGROUND
For years, emerging infectious diseases have appeared worldwide and threatened the health of people. The emergence and spread of an infectious-disease outbreak are usually unforeseen, and have the features of suddenness and uncertainty. Timely understanding of basic information in the field, and the collection and analysis of epidemiological information, is helpful in making rapid decisions and responding to an infectious-disease emergency. Therefore, it is necessary to have an unobstructed channel and convenient tool for the collection and analysis of epidemiologic information in the field.


RESULTS
Baseline information for each county in mainland China was collected and a database was established by geo-coding information on a digital map of county boundaries throughout the country. Google Maps was used to display geographic information and to conduct calculations related to maps, and the 3G wireless network was used to transmit information collected in the field to the server. This study established a decision support system for the response to infectious-disease emergencies based on WebGIS and mobile services (DSSRIDE). The DSSRIDE provides functions including data collection, communication and analyses in real time, epidemiological detection, the provision of customized epidemiological questionnaires and guides for handling infectious disease emergencies, and the querying of professional knowledge in the field. These functions of the DSSRIDE could be helpful for epidemiological investigations in the field and the handling of infectious-disease emergencies.


CONCLUSIONS
The DSSRIDE provides a geographic information platform based on the Google Maps application programming interface to display information of infectious disease emergencies, and transfers information between workers in the field and decision makers through wireless transmission based on personal computers, mobile phones and personal digital assistants. After a 2-year practice and application in infectious disease emergencies, the DSSRIDE is becoming a useful platform and is a useful tool for investigations in the field carried out by response sections and individuals. The system is suitable for use in developing countries and low-income districts.
State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Ya-pin
YP
Li
Li-qun
LQ
Fang
Su-qing
SQ
Gao
Zhen
Z
Wang
Hong-wei
HW
Gao
Peng
P
Liu
Ze-Rui
ZR
Wang
Yan-Li
YL
Li
Xu-Guang
XG
Zhu
Xin-Lou
XL
Li
Bo
B
Xu
Yin-Jun
YJ
Li
Hong
H
Yang
Sake J
SJ
de Vlas
Tao-Xing
TX
Shi
Wu-Chun
WC
Cao
D000465:Algorithms; D040421:Cell Phone; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003625:Data Collection; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface