title: EbolaTracks: an automated SMS system for monitoring persons potentially exposed to Ebola virus disease.
abstract: We report development and implementation of a short message service (SMS)-based system to facilitate active monitoring of persons potentially exposed to Ebola virus disease (EVD), whether returning from EVD-affected countries, or contacts of local cases, should they occur. The system solicits information on symptoms and temperature twice daily. We demonstrated proof-of-concept; however this system would likely be even more useful where there are many local contacts to confirmed EVD cases or travellers from EVD-affected countries.
authors.affiliation: Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Tracey
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Dowse
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Effler
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone; D016358:Contact Tracing; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D060145:Text Messaging