Abstract
Timely detection of zoonotic outbreaks in remote pastoralist regions remains a challenge for public health systems. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Open Data Kit (ODK) based reporting systems used by Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) in Narok County. Results indicate a 40% reduction in reporting lag time compared to traditional paper-based methods.
Introduction
Zoonotic diseases account for 60% of emerging infectious diseases worldwide. In Kenya, the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) are particularly vulnerable due to high livestock-human interaction...
Methodology
We deployed a custom ODK form to 50 CAHWs across three sub-counties. The form utilized syndromic surveillance algorithms to flag potential outbreaks of Anthrax, Brucellosis, and RVF...
Results
Over a 6-month period, 1,200 reports were submitted. The digital system flagged 3 confirmed Anthrax outbreaks an average of 4 days earlier than the government surveillance system...