EpiMap: Towards quantifying contact networks for understanding epidemiology in developing countries

We describe the EpiMap project, together with the FluPhone project where we developed the basic technology for EpiMap. In FluPhone, human contact data is collected using mobile phones to record information such as locality and user symptoms for flu or cold. Delay tolerant opportunistic networks were used as a basis for communication. We are extending the technology used in FluPhone to gather information on human interactions within rural communities of developing countries. The collected information will be used to develop improved mathematical models for the spread of infectious diseases such as measles, tuberculosis and pneumococcal diseases. Survey study will aid the understanding of the living conditions in these villages. We introduce the EpiMap vision for a system of opportunistic networks combined with satellite communication, designed to face the challenges posed by weak electricity and communication infrastructures in rural regions of developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America. We aim to use a delay-tolerant small satellite for data transfer between developing countries and Europe ore North America. Data collected through EpiMap can be used to help design more efficient vaccination strategies and equitable control programmes. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.