We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a text-messaging system used for notification of disease outbreaks in Kenya. Health facilities that used the system had more timely notifications than those that did not (19.2% vs. 2.6%), indicating that technology can enhance disease surveillance in resource-limited settings.
Keywords: Kenya; bioterrorism and preparedness; cell phones; communicable diseases; developing countries; disease notification; disease outbreaks; epidemiology; public health surveillance; randomized controlled trial.