Tweeting Fever: Are Tweet Extracts a Valid Surrogate Data Source for Dengue Fever?

Authors

  • Jacqueline S. Coberly The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
  • Clayton R. Fink The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
  • Eugene Elbert The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
  • In-Kyu Yoon Armed Forces Research Institute for Medical Research, Bangkok, THAILAND
  • John M. Velasco Armed Forces Research Institute for Medical Research, Bangkok, THAILAND
  • Agnes Tomayo Armed Forces Research Institute for Medical Research, Bangkok, THAILAND
  • V. Roque National Epidemiology Center, Manila, PHILIPPINES
  • S. Ygano Cebu City Health Office, Cebu City, PHILIPPINES
  • Durinda Macasoco Cebu City Health Office, Cebu City, PHILIPPINES
  • Sheri Lewis National Epidemiology Center, Manila, PHILIPPINES

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i1.4405

Abstract

This abstract describes a study that examined whether Twitter data extracts could be used effectively as a surrogate data source for dengue fever for electronic disease surveillance. Tweets containing a medically-relevant reference to fever were compared to fever and dengue fever incidence data as identified by local and national health authorities and found to be statistically significantly correlated with both incidence data sets. The results suggest that Twitter extracts may provide a valid and timely surrogate data source to monitor dengue fever. Further study is warranted.

Author Biography

Jacqueline S. Coberly, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD

Jacqueline Coberly, BS, MHS, PhD is an infectious disease epidemiologist, trained at the JHU Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is currently the public health lead on the SAGES biosurveillance program at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where she uses her expertise in epidemiology, infectious disease and statistics to help design, implement and evaluate disease surveillance software applications primarily for resource-limited areas.

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Published

2013-03-23

How to Cite

Coberly, J. S., Fink, C. R., Elbert, E., Yoon, I.-K., Velasco, J. M., Tomayo, A., … Lewis, S. (2013). Tweeting Fever: Are Tweet Extracts a Valid Surrogate Data Source for Dengue Fever?. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i1.4405

Issue

Section

Oral Presentations: Social and News Media