App way to monitor infection

CONTACT tracing (CT) is a trusted-and-tested method in containing an outbreak. CT entails, in its most rudimentary form, interviewing a patient about whom he/she has been in contact with during the period of illness so that they can be tracked, diagnosed and treated, and the spread of the disease can be contained.

In its manual interview form, the method is feasible for a medium-to-slow spreading disease. For instance, if one contracts tuberculosis, it would be easy for him to recount where and with whom he has been, and the people concerned would be contacted and treated if required. If one suffers food poisoning, it’s easy to recall where the food was cooked or purchased and who also ate it.