CBS Platform Alert Triggering Rapid Response to Reported Measles Case in Somaliland

Since May 2018 Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) volunteers have been active in community based surveillance (CBS), aiming at early detection and response to potential outbreaks. In rural Somaliland, infrastructure and access to health care are poor.

With the new CBS platform developed by Norwegian Red Cross tech volunteers, SRCS volunteers can send a text message to alert when someone is sick with symptoms of epidemic-prone diseases. The cloud-based system enables real-time reporting, monitoring, and information sharing with all stakeholders and early action so that outbreaks can be stopped before they happen. Early action is ensured through SRCS’ network of mobile clinics, serving the rural population.

On March 17th, an SRCS volunteer reported symptoms of measles in a young girl via SMS to the CBS platform. Within 1.5 hours of receiving the report, the SRCS CBS officer at the district branch contacted the volunteer to verify the case report. On-site verification was also conducted by two additional volunteers. The CBS officer advised the volunteers, who referred the child to the nearest health facility and shared information with relevant partners, including the broader SRCS office network and the Ministry of Health Development. The case was later confirmed to be measles by hospital physicians, and the girl received treatment.

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease and is one of the leading vaccine-preventable causes of death in the world. Thanks to the real-time SMS reporting through the CBS platform and the rapid response by the SRCS, the case was referred to the hospital and treated before infection spread. Follow-up activities have also been planned in cooperation with the Ministry of Health Development in order to inform volunteers and community members of prevention and risks of measles.