Using big data technology to contain current and future occurrence of Ebola Viral Disease and other epidemic diseases in West Africa

Abstract

West Africa is currently plagued with Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) and other minor epidemic diseases which has led to major economic meltdown and high mortality rate in countries like Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia as a result of immigration, emigration, foreign trade and investment, bilateral, poor health care issues amidst others. Harmonized EVD related data can help identify individuals who are at risk of contracting the terminal disease and at the same time controlling the outbreak which will in turn lower cost of health care across West Africa. This paper presents the significance, framework as well as an implementation plan and design for using Big Data Technologies (BDT) as an aid to prevent and control EVD in West Africa and the provision of how the principles of cloud computing could be applied to present and impending expectations of the West African Health sector.