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. 2018 Nov;24(11):2074-2076.
doi: 10.3201/eid2411.181237. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

World Health Organization Early Warning, Alert and Response System in the Rohingya Crisis, Bangladesh, 2017-2018

World Health Organization Early Warning, Alert and Response System in the Rohingya Crisis, Bangladesh, 2017-2018

Basel Karo et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Nov.

Abstract

The Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS) is a web-based system and mobile application for outbreak detection and response in emergency settings. EWARS provided timely information on epidemic-potential diseases among >700,000 Rohingya refugees across settlements. EWARS helped in targeting new measles vaccination campaigns and investigating suspected outbreaks of acute jaundice syndrome.

Keywords: Bangladesh; EWARS; Rohingya; Rohingya crisis; emergency response; humanitarian innovation; mobile phone–based surveillance; outbreak detection; surveillance.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Examples of the World Health Organization EWARS supplies used for public health surveillance of Rohingya refugee populations in Bangladesh, 2017–2018. A) EWARS in a box. B) EWARS mobile application. EWARS, Early Warning, Alert and Response System.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Screenshots of maps and alerts generated by the World Health Organization Early Warning, Alert and Response System during week 1, January 2018, in Rohingya refugee settlements in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. A) Measles; B) acute jaundice syndrome.

References

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