Sem Dengue (Break Zika)

In 2016, a Brazilian start-up called Colab Tecnologia developed the Sem Dengue app to help contain the spread of the Dengue virus (Chikungunya and Zika) by crowdsourcing information about its carrier, Aedes aegypti (a tropical mosquito). Originally introduced in Notoroi, Brazil, the app enables residents to capture geolocated photographs of mosquitoes and larvae around their city. The data is shared with public sector agencies to indicate high-risk areas and prompt a visit from pest control officials. It also provides a platform for users to report their symptoms and detect whether they may be infected, data that can be used for epidemiological research. The app was adopted by two dozen other Brazilian cities and helps to bring awareness to residents’ urban surroundings and ecosystems while aiming to protect public health. While it is unclear how much impact this specific app has had on the prevalence of Zika in Brazil, it is one of many mobile apps that use crowdsourcing and mapping efforts to help prevent and respond to viral outbreaks. While such apps capture additional data on the geography of the virus and help to prevent its spread, they may also lead to some concerns around privacy as all data entered by users is available to partnered municipalities and government agencies.

Barchfield, J. (2016, March 8). App helps in Brazil’s fight against Zika-spreading mosquito. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160308/news/303089817

Sillers, P. (2016, April 13). Can you repel mosquitoes with an app? Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/can-you-repel-mosquitoes-with-an-app-a6981121.html

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