The PODD Platform is the disease surveillance software powering PODD including a mobile app, outbreak manager, and API.
Disease data is collected into decentralized repositories owned and managed by local health and government officials via the PODD Manager. They are able to run reports and analyze the real-time data coming in from farms. When enough cases of sick animals with similar characteristics are reported within a defined radius, PODD Manager triggers the following actions:
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Automated alerts are sent to local health authorities who manage the reported area.
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Preliminary guidance is automatically delivered to the volunteer, instructing them to quarantine the animal and disinfect the surrounding areas.
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The local officials will then communicate directly with the livestock owner via a chat feature within PODD Manager and dispatch a local response team, if necessary.
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Local responders collect lab samples and work with community members on preventative or outbreak control measures.
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All activity tracking and case outcomes are recorded in PODD Manager for historical case reporting.
What makes the PODD technology innovative is that it brings the public back into public health. PODD is open source — 100% free to copy & use and globally accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
The PODD app is easy to use even for rural users who have never owned a mobile phone, however some basic training on digital literacy, such as how to take clear photos, is still recommended.