CREATING AN APPLICATION FOR MOBILE DEVICES TO COMBAT AEDES AEGYPTI

Introduction and Objectives: In Brazil, the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika viruses, among other diseases, brought the country to a state of emergency in public health. Actions to combat the mosquito require dissemination of specific information and clear guidelines on how to prevent and eliminate potential breeding sites, in addition to monitoring these actions. To help combat the Aedes mosquito, the TelessaúdeRS/UFRGS research project of the post-graduate program in Epidemiology of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, and the Health Office of Rio Grande do Sul have developed an application (APP) for monitoring potential breeding sites and informing users about Aedes-borne diseases and their symptoms. Method: a mobile application, free for iOS and Android platforms, was developed. The application allows to report on possible breeding places of Aedes using geolocation and photos. The target audience is the Brazilian general population. Users will receive guidelines and weekly alerts about home inspections, according to the profile registered after installation. The APP also provides information on mosquito-borne diseases. Results and Conclusions: Since the application’s release, it has been downloaded over 2,500 times in 30 days, generating 318 reports during the same period, submitted to the municipal health departments. The use of mobile devices in public health emergency situations may help in the rapid dissemination of quality information to population in general, as well as aid health professionals in combatting the Aedes aegypti mosquito and facilitating public monitoring.