Development and implementation of electronic disease early warning systems for optimal disease surveillance and response during humanitarian crisis and Ebola outbreak in Yemen, Somalia, Liberia and Pakistan

OBJECTIVE:

To share lessons learned with experience in concept development of electronic disease early warning system (eDEWS) as a standardized informatic tool for optimal disease surveillance for early warning and response Network (EWARN) during humanitarian crisis.

RESULTS:

We identified 98 electronic health projects, classified 22 projects under 'Disease and epidemic outbreak surveillance' theme, whereas only four electronic tools met our selection criteria and were reported to be implemented in humanitarian settings complimentary to EWARN. Baseline information was obtained to guide work on requirement gathering and analysis process, and development of concept for a standardized electronic tool for EWARN.