Automated Contact Tracing (ACT)

The ACT system automates contact follow up and builds location based maps of
transmission networks - thereby providing a resource efcient and highly scalable
foundation for further data analysis.
CONFIDENTIAL
PROPERTY OF GROUNDUP GLOBAL
WHAT IS ACT WHAT DOES IT DO
Automated Contact Tracing (ACT) is a techni-
cal platform that traces contacts through inter-
active voice response (IVR) to track outbreaks -
such as Ebola - in real time and anticipate where
the virus will next present.
ACT is a new method of contact tracing that
leverages cutting-edge technology to
automate on-the-ground data collection
and surveillance of potential EVD
carriers
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build real-time maps of emerging cases
and transmission networks
API allows for dynamic and predictive
data analyses and visualizations for use
by public and stakeholders
BENEFITS
CURRENT ISSUES
Contact tracing and surveillance are essential to managing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks
Traditional methods of contact tracing have not scaled to meet current epidemiological challenges:
EVD is transmitted person to person; contact tracing aggregates necessary data to
contain the spread of the disease
Currently, all case mapping and contact tracing have to be logged manually
This interview-based system made sense in previous outbreaks, which have been
isolated within remote areas
ACT increases efficiency of overburdened health workers 20 fold by automating contact follow up and
tracking migration of potential carriers. Based on estimates from MoH, 10,000 contacts need to be
surveilled but only about 1,500 are currently under surveillance. ACT is 7 times more efficient than current
methods and would provide real-time data necessary for WHO, CDC and MoH to allocate resources effec-
tively and, most critically, get ahead of the virus.
No standardized patient intake form
No central database of cases and contacts
No way to identify a potential EVD patient before they seek medical attention
No efficient way for group of health workers to coordinate and communicate
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Highly scalable and adaptable for deploy-
ment in other countries; facilitation of public
information dissemination campaigns; data
storage that can coordinate between health
workers and patients; rich database for post-cri-
sis study of epidemics.
Initial information about ACT service dissemi-
nated through existing channels (MoI, UNICEF,
UNMIL, WHO, CDC), community leaders, non-
profits, radio, print, bulk SMS blasts, and coordi-
nates efforts with Liberian Diasporas and
religious leadership
Health worker interviews an EVD patient, logs
phone number and the cell phone numbers of
patients contacts. IVR system automates
dialect-specific, daily follow up with contacts for
21 days and alerts the health worker if symptoms
present.
Information from patients and contacts is stored
in local server networked with a Cellcom VPN.
ACT generates real-time mobility models based
on anonymized location grabs from cell phones
that have opted in to service. Analysis teams at
HealthMap visualize data on a map that can be
used by stakeholders.
Government of Liberia
Google crisis response
InSTEDD
World Health Organization
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
International Network of Crisis Mappers
iLab Liberia
Cellcom
Liberian Citizen Advisory Council
Union of Liberian Associations in the
Americas (ULAA)
HealthMap
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
Harvard Medical School
Mdecins Sans Frontires
International Rescue Committee
PARTNERS HOW IT WORKS
Automated Contact Tracing (ACT)
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CONFIDENTIAL
PROPERTY OF GROUNDUP GLOBAL
SOLUTION
IVR speaks to contacts in their preferred
dialect, no reading or writing required
ACT automates contact follow ups, reduc-
ing workload 20 fold
Migration models allows stakeholders to
accurately predict where virus will present
and send resources there
ACT is partnering with Cellcom to pull
anonymized location grabs of infected
EVD contacts once symptoms present
ISSUE
Illiteracy makes outreach and spread of
accurate health information inefficient
Health workers are overburdened and
have limited resources
WHO, CDC, and Governments are not
able to effectively allocate resources
Inability to map transmission in over-
crowded urban areas and across long
distances
Lack of coordination, including standard-
ized intake forms and central database
ACT database protects and stores infor-
mation across stakeholder groups
Camilla Hermann | +1 617 939 8537
hermanncamilla@gmail.com
Randall Ray | +1 314 660 4992
rsr292@gmail.com