IVR and H1N1: Round Two

Last month the spread of the H1N1 virus had slowed considerably in North America but cases were beginning to erupt in other parts of the world. As a result, the health ministry of India created an IVR help line for residents to access updates about the outbreak as well as get help in locating medical assistance. Although it is still summer in North America, many local and state governments are preparing for the upcoming flu season that in some places could begin as early September.

Several colleges around Ottawa, Canada are developing IVR systems to monitor and contain any outbreak that might occur in their on-campus residence halls. Algonquin College is using a system that will periodically call all students to poll them on any flu-related symptoms they might be feeling. The college administrators will then be able to use this "snapshot" as a means for making decisions about canceling classes to minimize student contact. As the threat of the H1N1 virus returns this fall, there will likely be more localized IVR systems implemented to deal with dissemination of information about the flu.