Current mobile phone network technology in Singapore does not track users in real time, however, and health authorities cite individual privacy as concern

The Straits Times
Monday, June 23, 2008

By Judith Tan

There is a dengue outbreak in your neighbourhood and instead of just checking breeding sites and taking blood samples, public health officers could some day also jot down your cellphone number.

By tracking the cellphone's signal, researchers could tell whether you have crossed paths with someone who is infected, suggested an expert from Britain recently.

Because most Singaporeans do not leave home without their cellphone, scientists could follow the spread of diseases like dengue, malaria and bird flu, said Sir Roy Anderson, rector of Imperial College London.

Right now, health officers have a hard time tracking diseases like dengue, which can pop up in several areas of the city at once. Cellphone tracking could reduce the time it takes to trace a patient's contacts.

Sir Roy, who is also chief scientific adviser to Britain's Defence Ministry, made the comments during an infectious disease symposium held here last week.

He said Singapore would be an ideal place to use mobile phones in infectious disease control as it is a small island with a plethora of cellphones -- 1.3 for each individual.

'As an island, Singapore is small enough (to be) a testbed for mobile phone tracking. I have also observed that Singaporeans have one of the highest rates of mobile phone ownership in the world,' he added.

Local researcher Dr Ooi Eng Eong supported the plan.

Dr Ooi, an associate professor with Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, said: 'Transmission outside the home is a difficult area to address, given the sheer size of land area. The availability of high resolution data will be useful in directing control efforts.'

A two-year study by Dr Ooi and his team revealed that most dengue cases are transmitted outside the home. The study was presented at the same symposium.

When it comes to tracking transmission, Dr Ooi is convinced mobile phones would be an added asset in disease tracing.

This is where his research team will channel its efforts in the coming years.

Sir Roy said with many new mobile phones now including Global Positioning System (GPS) and Java technology, real-time data collection makes it easier to track infectious diseases.

But a spokesman for the National Environment Agency said its main strategy remains -- prevent mosquito breeding in premises and public areas by raising the awareness and participation of the community.

Both SingTel and Mobile-One, two of the three telcos here, said their networks can track users, but not in real time.

Health authorities here are unwilling to use the technology in infectious disease tracking as it 'infringes on an individual's privacy'.

A spokesman for the Health Ministry told The Straits Times it is only necessary to obtain information on close contacts to trace a disease like dengue.

'This information is easily obtainable from the patient himself or from the workplace or school.

'This also applies to influenza if contact tracing needs to be done,' she said.

Date Posted: 6/23/2008