title: Effectiveness of a Mobile Short-Message-Service-Based Disease Outbreak Alert System in Kenya.
abstract: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a text-messaging system used for notification of disease outbreaks in Kenya. Health facilities that used the system had more timely notifications than those that did not (19.2% vs. 2.6%), indicating that technology can enhance disease surveillance in resource-limited settings.
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Njeru
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zurovac
authors.forename: Shikanga
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O-Tipo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kareko
authors.forename: Matilu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mwau
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morita
mesh_terms: D000881:Anthrax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D040421:Cell Phone; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000379:methods; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004320:Dracunculiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Kenya; bioterrorism and preparedness; cell phones; communicable diseases; developing countries; disease notification; disease outbreaks; epidemiology; public health surveillance; randomized controlled trial