In what may the first-of a-kind activity where the use of satellite-based communications in tandem with ground-based mobile device reporting of mock Avian Influenza outbreak, the CISCAI Project set a landmark simulation table-top exercise in Phu Ninh, Soc Son District, Hanoi Vietnam last 16 April 2010.

Members of field test team, included staff from Department of Animal Health (DAH) and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) with the valuable and excellent technical support from the NetNam Corporation and Information Center of Natural Resource and Environment (CIREN) - Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the local health and agricultural officers of Phu Ninh, Soc Son District.

 

The CISCAI field team was led by veteran human and animal health experts, namely Dr. Nguyen Cong Khanh of NIHE, Dr. Van Dang Ky of DAH and joined in by Dr. Tran Ngoc Thang, retired Director of Planning, International Cooperation and Science Division-DAH, who himself is a devoted CISCAI–advocate. Dr. Jose Edgardo Aban and Mr. Bambang Wijayanto of CISCAI-PCU, were there to observe the whole exercise.

The CISCAI system was field tested in terms of the following parameters: the speed at which data from the field was inputted and conveyed electronically/digitally via the CISCAI’s Network system, in both mobile hand-held devices and laptop computers; the time it takes for information to be processed and decision made at the central levels of both the NIHE and the DAH, and subsequently how this updated information is displayed in the web-based CISCAI Geographic Information System (GIS). The whole process was benchmarked with the classical/traditional “paper-and-pen” outbreak reporting system, in order to gauge the overall performance of the CISCAI-enabled reporting system.

Additionally, the robustness of the internet connection via the IP-STAR satellite was put to test by conducting a live videoconference on-site with PCU staff based in Jakarta, Indonesia. The quality of the videoconference experience could be described as moderately fair, with very few distortions in both video and sound quality. In future, real outbreak situations, such videoconferencing set-up would be very useful for extremely remote locations, when and where there is total absence of internet connection except via an Internet satellite (i.e. IP-STAR), and when field, on-site tele-medical consultations may be direly needed .

The choice of Soc Son District as the maiden test area for the CISCAI system came in timely, since a few weeks ago around early March 2010, Soc Son District was flagged as an outbreak area for H5N1/Avian Influenza. The case was a 25 year old woman residing in Soc Son District, Hanoi. She developed symptoms on 5 March 2010 and was hospitalized on 7 March 2010 at North Thang Long Hospital. On 10 March 2010, her condition had worsened so she was transferred to Bach Mai Hospital. She is now recuperating well.

The grouped even camped a few meters from the household of the infected woman, where interviews and health data gathering among family members of said patient were conducted by staff from both NIHE and DAH.

Post exercises evaluation showed that CISCAI systems – based on GIS technology and advanced communication satellites significantly enhanced the speed at which collection and processing information was done. One reason was that it by lessened the redundancy in re-encoding and relaying health data along the various levels where information clearance and evaluation from one level to the next, have to be done in both the NIHE and DAH .

In a joint statement made by both Drs. Ky and Thang “Our initial test of the (CISCAI) GIS software and mobile satellite systems gave optimistic results. We hope that in real outbreak situations, the CISCAI system will be playing a significant role in collecting and handling information process. We are hopeful that the same CISCAI system can be duplicated/emulated very soon in other ASEAN member states”. (CISCAI-PCU)