Zoonotic Virus Surveillance System

The weaknesses of public health systems at country –level exposed by COVID-19 pandemic: Lack of a zoonotic virus surveillance system that is tightly linked to animal markets and international human travels. These three factors played a key role in amplifying the outbreak in China, and spreading the virus outside the borders of China. 

  Zoonotic Virus Surveillance System is a tool (at country –level )that tracks previous pandemics data to detect the virus early, and rapidly responds to prevent the spillover event. It also  curbs/prevents an outbreak in its early phases.

ZOVISS holds the potential to prevent public health emergency crisis triggered by pandemics and promotes global cost–effective health security system.  

Public health systems' lack of zoonotic virus surveillance systems at country-level: Equipped with early detection and prevention tools that are tightly linked to animal markets and international human travels .

 These three factors played a key role in amplifying the outbreak in China, and spreading the virus outside the borders of China.

 The novel Coronavirus disease or the COVID-19 pandemic has infected  8.367,894 million and killed over 449,397 people worldwide as of June 17,2020. However, international human travels remain the dynamics of spreading the virus. This is in addition to other factors such as careless human -animal interactions on the animal markets that amplified the outbreak, and the ill-equipped zoonotic virus surveillance system that saw the 'rabbit out of the box.'

This explains why the solution is to have these three factors tightly linked  via ZOVISS to detect early the virus and rapidly responds to prevent the spillover event,and  also curb the outbreak in its early phases. 

ZOVISS is an online web-based tool for analyzing real-time previous outbreaks data (pulled from official sites such as WHO and Center for Disease Control) to detect early viruses and rapidly respond to prevent the spillover event or curbs an outbreak in its early phases. 

How it works?

•ZOVISS  tool uses  real-time previous pandemics data analysis to detect  viruses or an outbreak within 24 hours or 13 days earlier than the conventional method’s 14-75 days  detection system ,and rapidly responds to prevent the spill over event;

 • Data analysis  provides an instant virus-picture and detects early  health security threats posed to human populations; 

 •  ZOVISS helps prevent the spill over event by 24 /7 active monitoring animal markets and other careless human-animal interactions ;and aids

• tracking international human travels to help curb an outbreak within 72 hours from spreading  beyond borders ;  

  •  Informs and guides public health response ( effective virus surveillance, risk communication strategies, policy decision-making and strategy formulation). 

The target population includes every citizen, via policy and decision-makers, technocrats in disease intelligence communities or virus surveillance professionals, academicians and every one  who care about their health security.

Currently, more than 7 billion  people  world wide are gripped with fear,anxiety,suspicion and uncertainties brought about by COVID-19 pandemic and the health security threats posed to them. 

ZOVISS is not only actively engaging  various governments in an effort to help strengthen the current weak  zoonotic virus surveillance systems, but also developing effective and timely risk communication  strategies to help equip communities' response to health security threats such as COVID-19 pandemic.

ZOVISS is the most cost-effective and preventive tool, and health security economics in modern times that  meets the needs of the target populations.

 Public health systems at country -level lack  zoonotic virus surveillance systems that are  tightly linked to animal markets and international human travels.

ZOVISS introduces an integrated and comprehensive real-time early  virus detection tool that rapidly responds to prevent the spillover event and curbs an outbreak in its early phases.

ZOVISS will help the target population to be adequately prepared to provide 24/7  virus and disease surveillance system,and rapidly respond to prevent the spillover event and curb an outbreak in it's early phases.

The  Real-time outbreak and disease surveillance system (RODS), a US University of Pittsburgh’s  developed syndromic surveillance system, relies on real-time clinical data from emergency departments within a geographic region to provide a picture of symptom patterns instantly and  early detection of epidemic events.

Similarly, Google Flu Trends can detect regional outbreaks of influenza 7–10 days before conventional CDC surveillance, and the data generated can be useful for public health care practice, clinical decision making, and research.   

But both Google Flu Trends and RODS lacks an integrated comprehensive real-time virus surveillance system: where previous outbreaks data analysis is used to monitor 24/7 animal markets and track international human travels. 

However,  ZOVISS is an innovative  web-based  integrated and comprehensive tool that analyzes previous real-time outbreaks data to detect the virus early and rapidly responds to prevent the spillover event.It also curbs the outbreak in its early phases. 

 ZOVISS is a unique and innovative application of data for the real-time early virus and outbreak detection,and  real-time rapid response system.It forms part of a coordinated, robust and digital global public health response. 

Various public health systems worldwide use real-time previous outbreaks data analysis to help in public health care practice, clinical decision-making, as well as to inform and guide public health response.

But ZOVISS is an online web-based tool for analyzing real-time previous outbreaks data (pulled from official sites such as WHO and Center for Disease Control) to detect early zoonotic viruses and rapidly responds to prevent the spillover event by 24/7 actively monitoring animal markets and other careless human interactions,and tracking international human travels to curb an outbreak within 72 hours or in its early phases.

ZOVISS is powered by Google search engine and analytics as its core technology. 

ZOVISS has demonstrated as an evidence based tool, timely, robust, and digital surveillance system. It's specifically used for surveillance of zoonotic viruses in animal markets and other careless human-animal interactions,and outbreaks. It’s also suitable for outbreak surveillance via tracking international human travels to curb/prevent the spread of the virus beyond borders in developed and developing countries. 

 International concerns on Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic makes ZOVISS as the most coordinated, cost-effective , efficient, robust and digital global public health preparedness and response to health security threats.  

Whilst big data analysis concept is not new, embracing the use of power of data and technology in the digital age-era given the coronavirus crisis' devastating impact on health security is critical.

Businesses or organizations apply data analytics to gain insights and uncover new trends. They also use big data analytics for risk management. ZOVISS  uses the power of data and technology  to assist human intelligence conduct surveillance for zoonotic viruses and outbreaks. 

 ZOVISS uses previous pandemics data analysis or interprets to actively  monitor  24/7 animal markets and track international human travels to minimize the health security threats posed by zoonotic viruses,and maximizes  control of an outbreak  within 72 hours or in its early phases.

  ZOVISS utilizes and a widely accepted technology: Data analysis or interprets data and suggests course of action on a web-based tool.

 ZOVISS would enhance and strengthen public health systems' zoonotic viruses and outbreaks surveillance ability,and fully equip public health response with a globally coordinated, timely,robust and digital system. 

Public health systems worldwide are in dire need of a solution that is  most   coordinated, effective ,efficient,  timely, robust , digital and global public health response to health security threats posed by severe zoonotic viruses like Coronavirus. 

And that solution is ZOVISS as it meets their needs: Enhanced global  public health response to health security threats.

Growing evidence suggests that public health professionals and decision-makers are more than willing to adopt new methods of detecting the virus early and rapidly responding to prevent the spillover or contain the spread  of the virus.

Similarly, target communities or populations have shown demonstrable evidence that they are in dire need of timely and effective risk communication strategies and information.

For example, a snap survey indicates that very few people understand that coronavirus is a zoonotic virus and that animal markets pose a serious for yet another outbreak. 

However, ZOVISS will prepare a comprehensive risk communication information booklet, and hold  public discussions to influence acceptance by public health management teams’ and decision-makers.

Outputs: Public health professional gains understanding of the use of ZOVISS as well as politicians or decision-makers; and the general population gains awareness of the ZOVISS.

Short term outcomes: Public health professionals and decision-makers demonstrate understanding of ZOVOSS by appreciating it.

Long term outcomes: Both public health professional and decision-makers accepts the use of ZOVISS and structural changes associated with the project.

The currently number of I’m serving is 10,000 people, and plans to reach more than 1 million  in the next one year and the target for the next five years is 50 million people.

My short term goals (in the next one year) are:

● Develop and refine an integrated and comprehensive real-time and new scalable method of detecting viruses early that poses health security threats; and  rapidly respond or prevent the spread of the virus or new infections; and curb the spread of the virus in its early phases before it becomes a pandemic.

Strategies to achieve the goals are:

● Since the project is at prototype development stage, then I will actively engage with potential users to refine the product.

The project development time frame is about one year. The project will be implemented in two phases: The first phase focuses on piloting the product.

The goals for the long term (in the next five year) are:

●to transform people’s lives by providing scalable, cost-efficient and affordable early virus detection and rapid response to prevent the spread of the virus; and

●to enhance health security situations of the target populations by ensuring that the ZOVISS shield people from the virus.

The second phase focuses on roll out or scaling up the project. The second phase is likely to consume about five years and or more. 

The barriers that currently exist to inhibit me from accomplishing my goals  next year and in the next five years are:

They range from financial, technical, legal and other project development and implementation challenges.

I do not have finances or the resources needed to develop the project. I need more than $20000 to fully develop the project.

Whilst I have some basic knowledge and possess skills on  data analysis , internet technology, and new technologies, I will  need to hire  services of technical assistance to help in refining and developing some aspects of the project.

As for legal aspects, that is the patent or property rights, I will need to register in all countries where we will have operations. Again, that is costly and tedious and time consuming undertakings.

There many unforeseen challenges associated with the project development and implementation that holds the potential to consume time and resources.

I’m more than geared to overcome the highlighted barriers as follows:

●Enthusiasm –this is one of a great asset of my abilities to overcome the barriers in question.

Specifically, I will address the financial barriers by soliciting for funding from various potential grant-making organizations, including the MIT’s SOLVE Challenge. I will use this resources for the  development of the product and scaling up project activities.

As for technical assistance, I will have to mobilize those experts I think can effectively help.

Definitely, I will make great strides in ensuring that I register for the property rights in countries where we have operations. No-matter how costly and time consuming thee process may be.

I will definitely overcome other barriers that crop up to hinder my progress . 

As of now, I have been working alone .As stated in the barriers, I will engage full-time staff,part-time and some contractors as the project evolves. 

I have the temerity to accomplish the project as I will bring with me a wealth of experience in developing new projects. I have developed new organizations and projects. As a data-based journalist with practical experience in data wrangling and story- telling, I have extensive understanding of electronic, print and online media industry.

I enjoy exceptional ability to conduct research assignments, meet tight deadlines,and command as well a strong ability to work with clients and networking skills.

I’m diligent and result-oriented, self-motivated, able to work with minimum supervision, coupled with writing skills, managerial talent, ability to translate ideas into action, communicate effectively and work as part of the team or alone, I’m positioned to deliver this solution.

Further, I’m always willing to put in long hours to complete a project or assignment, and enjoys the work immensely and takes great pride in a quality finished product.

Not partnered with any one yet.

The segments of our key customers are: decision-makers, policy makers, politicians, health practitioners, and diplomatic missions abroad and research institutions.

The beneficiaries are: the citizens of the every country in the world, particularly the 216 countries affected by the Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic.

This organization will deploy ZOVISS (new application of data analytics) to the key customers and education services on the application of this new tool as well as provide advocacy services for policy and law reforms related to the direct or indirect changes required to adopt the ZOVISS.

The key customers have to pay to buy services. Although the business model is a not-profit venture, it requires resources to finance operations which will be partly financed by users will pay to buy services and grants from grant-making institutions.

The key customers are in dire need of this product and services to help them address the current challenges of managing health security threats posed to the human populations by  the weaknesses of the our obsolete public health systems: constant exposure to the zoonotic virus via careless human–animal interactions in animal markets and international human travels.

This non-profit organization that provides social services and will depend on multiple streams of revenue: customers will pay to buy services, fund-raising activities, which will include soliciting funds from grant-making institutions.  

Joining Solve will help me address some of the barriers –mostly the financial and technical serves barriers. I will receive financial assistance in form of a prize money as seed money for investing in the piloting of the project and scaling up the deployment of the project. 

In addition, I will also be empowered with knowledge and social entrepreneurship skills as well as be connected to the network of mentors and funders.

My partnership goals are to build relationships needed to accelerate my work, validate the impact and scale up my solution. I also want to enjoy collegiality and the  benefits of interacting with diverse multidisciplinary Members of Solve community. Of course, I need a personalized support from the Solve staff.

The most relevant areas in which I seek advice, mentorship, or partners to support my work are: solution technology, product/service distribution, and talent recruitment.

I need partnerships with the technology that will power the new application of the big data analytics or ZOVISS. I will as well need a partner in the distribution if the product and services across the world.

As for talent recruitment, the non-profit organization will need data analysts and skilled manpower to effectively utilize the technology and efficiently run the organization.

I, Justin Mupundu, qualify for the AI for Humanity Prize because I have developed a big data analytics solution to benefit humanity and I plan to use this technology to amplify its global impact on humanity.

ZOVISS will not only enhance global public health systems’ preparedness, inform and guide public health response, but also promote health security by conducting surveillance for  zoonotic viruses and outbreaks in an effort  to effectively prevent the virus spill event,and control the outbreaks in its early phases.