SAGES Overview: Open-Source Software Tools for Electronic Disease Surveillance in Resource-Limited Settings

Disease surveillance, the foundation of public health practice, is undergoing a revolution driven by advances in information technology. The past 15 years have seen vast improvements in the collection, analysis, visualization, and reporting of public health data. Resource-limited countries have lagged behind because of challenges in information technology infrastructure and public health resources. The Suite for Automated Global Electronic bioSurveillance (SAGES) is a collection of modular, open-source software tools designed to meet the challenges of electronic disease surveillance in resource-limited settings. Individual SAGES tools may be used in concert with existing surveillance applications or en masse for an end-to-end biosurveillance capability. This flexibility allows for the development of an inexpensive, customized, and sustainable disease surveillance system. The ability to rapidly assess anomalous disease activity may lead to more efficient use of limited resources and better compliance with World Health Organization International Health Regulations.