Enhancing Traceability of Infectious Diseases: A Blockchain-Based Approach

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Computer Science
• Information Systems

Background:

• Traditional disease reporting systems face challenges with data loss, unauthorized modifications, and unreliable traceability.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for robust traceability, reliability, and effectiveness in disease surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a blockchain-based method for tracing infectious disease information.
• To leverage blockchain's decentralized and immutable features to enhance disease reporting systems.

Main Methods:

• Designed a system for infectious disease information collection using blockchain technology.
• Implemented information storage in a chain-style format on the blockchain.
• Developed an information query mechanism for distributed nodes.

Main Results:

• The developed method creates an authentic and transparent disease information time series blockchain.
• Information can be queried and maintained at any node within the system.
• Demonstrated the system's capability for prompt information collection and secure storage.

Conclusions:

• Blockchain technology offers a viable solution to enhance the traceability, reliability, and effectiveness of disease direct reporting.
• The proposed method facilitates real-time monitoring and querying of infectious disease information.
• This approach significantly aids in tracing the propagation paths of infectious diseases.