Internet-based biosurveillance methods for vector-borne diseases: Are they novel public health tools or just novelties?

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Nov 30;11(11):e0005871. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005871. eCollection 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Internet-based surveillance methods for vector-borne diseases (VBDs) using "big data" sources such as Google, Twitter, and internet newswire scraping have recently been developed, yet reviews on such "digital disease detection" methods have focused on respiratory pathogens, particularly in high-income regions. Here, we present a narrative review of the literature that has examined the performance of internet-based biosurveillance for diseases caused by vector-borne viruses, parasites, and other pathogens, including Zika, dengue, other arthropod-borne viruses, malaria, leishmaniasis, and Lyme disease across a range of settings, including low- and middle-income countries. The fundamental features, advantages, and drawbacks of each internet big data source are presented for those with varying familiarity of "digital epidemiology." We conclude with some of the challenges and future directions in using internet-based biosurveillance for the surveillance and control of VBD.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
  • Bacterial Infections / transmission
  • Biosurveillance / methods*
  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Culicidae / parasitology
  • Culicidae / virology
  • Dengue / epidemiology
  • Disease Vectors*
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Leishmaniasis / epidemiology
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Malaria / epidemiology
  • Parasitic Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Parasitic Diseases / transmission
  • Poverty
  • Public Health*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Virus Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Virus Diseases / transmission
  • Zika Virus Infection / epidemiology

Grants and funding

RG Jarman and S Pollett were supported by the US Department of Defense Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (DoD-GEIS), a division of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. The funders had no role in the review design, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.