fbpx WHO launched an app against Zika | Science in the net

WHO launched an app against Zika

Primary tabs

di Cristina Da Rold
Pubblicato il 26/03/2016Read time: 3 mins
Global Health

Article published on the ASSET website

During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) developed an application that allowed people to share information on the spread of the contagion, which proved to be very useful to monitor the situation. Now that the Zika virus outbreak is raising concerns, would it be possible to use a similar approach?

Some weeks ago, the experts of the CDC argued that developing an app to track the spread of Zika virus would not be as effective as it was with Ebola. The main difference being the modality of virus transmission: Ebola infection is conveyed through human contact, while Zika virus is mainly spread through mosquito bites. Therefore, in the case of Zika, tracking the vector of the infection and monitoring the epidemiological situation is harder.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that using a tool like an app is not useful to spread information, especially for health care providers. Some days ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched an app for both iOS and Android that contains all the information about Zika virus and its suspected complications.

The app is especially designed for health care workers, it provides technical guidance complied by WHO experts and is focused on prevention and diagnosis, through a surveillance training and a facilitator's guide.  

Moreover, the WHO experts put a specific focus also on the management of risk situations, for instance on issues regarding pregnancy (i.e. the breastfeeding issue) and on the identification of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and microcephaly in the context of Zika virus. The app includes the technical guidance on how to maintain a safe and adequate blood supply during Zika virus outbreaks, how to communicate the risk in this context and shows many case-studies to be considered as examples. It also contains a list of Q&A.

The app is made up of three blocks: first, a part dedicated to general information, that could be useful for the general public too; a second part that includes the latest news that come from the WHO official channels to spread only validated information; a thirds wider part dedicated to the health care workers, which contains a list of approved documents and guidelines to manage healthcare services during risk situations.

Despite its wealth of information, the expert themselves specified that this app is a tool “under construction”, especially the parts concerning the two main potential consequences of Zika: microcephaly and the Guillain-Barré Syndrome. The cause of the disease cannot always be determined, and researchers are studying a potential but still unproven link between the surge in these diseases and Zika virus infection.

However, “potential” does not mean “certain”. For this reason, the WHO experts suggest to keep the app updated. The knowledge about Zika diffusion and its consequences continues to evolve week after week. 


Scienza in rete è un giornale senza pubblicità e aperto a tutti per garantire l’indipendenza dell’informazione e il diritto universale alla cittadinanza scientifica. Contribuisci a dar voce alla ricerca sostenendo Scienza in rete. In questo modo, potrai entrare a far parte della nostra comunità e condividere il nostro percorso. Clicca sul pulsante e scegli liberamente quanto donare! Anche una piccola somma è importante. Se vuoi fare una donazione ricorrente, ci consenti di programmare meglio il nostro lavoro e resti comunque libero di interromperla quando credi.


  • 14816 reads

prossimo articolo

The Log and the Speck: The True Causes of Wildfires and Floods

di Roberto Buizza
di Paolo Vineis
Pubblicato il 13/01/2025
The Parable of the Speck and the Log. Ottmar Ellinger the Younger

The wildfires in Los Angeles and other extreme events, as well as their media coverage, highlight how immediate causes often overshadow the real issue: climate change, which increases the intensity and frequency of catastrophic phenomena. Tackling this crisis requires urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions using already available technologies and investments to strengthen territorial resilience. Only a combination of mitigation and adaptation can prevent irreversible damage, ensuring a sustainable future for the next generations.

In the image: The Parable of the Speck and the Log. Ottmar Ellinger the Younger

Environment

Even in the face of the vast Los Angeles wildfires—still ongoing—as in other recent circumstances, the media's attention is primarily focused on the most immediate and “proximal” causes: the malfunctioning of the power grid, insufficient water reserves, the unpreparedness of newly hired firefighters, and so on.