The Hindu 14.09.2009
Online facility for disease-tracking to come up in Chennai
Shastry V. Mallady
MADURAI: A hi-tech network for Online Disease Surveillance and Prediction, particularly of chikungunya, by using Geographical Information System (GIS) facilities will soon be established in Chennai under the auspices of the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology. Besides tracking the vector-borne chikungunya and dengue across the State, the council has decided to scientifically track the A(H1N1) flu.
An Emergency Response Management Mechanism will be created at the council’s office in Chennai, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Health Department, by deploying technological tools that will help in creating a huge database, according to S. Vincent, member secretary, Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology.
“Our council had decided to concentrate on disease surveillance so that a better understanding of diseases and prevention aspects in time will become possible in Tamil Nadu,” he told The Hindu on Sunday. He said a well-equipped facility for online tracking of chikungunya, dengue and suspected swine flu cases will be set up shortly.
