From data to life-saving action: how Go.Data strengthened outbreak response in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

When disease outbreaks strike Cox’s Bazar, timely information can determine the extent of spread of infection and how quickly families receive care. For Rahima, a Community Health Volunteer in the Rohingya refugee camp, rapid data collection and sharing is critical. “If we arrive early enough, people trust the advice and will immediately seek care,” she said. “But when we arrive too late, the disease may have already progressed.”

Cox’s Bazar is one of the world’s most densely populated humanitarian settings, hosting more than one million Rohingya refugees in overcrowded conditions with poor access to essential services. Outbreaks there have historically spread faster than paper-based surveillance can track. During the 2017 diphtheria outbreak, confirmed cases surged to 50 in a single week with further spikes in early 2018. At that time, investigations relied on paper records, which was slowing down contact tracing and considerably delaying the analysis needed to take the right measures for outbreak control. Without timely, actionable data, response teams were struggling to keep pace. 

Transitioning to near real-time outbreak investigation

To address these gaps, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh and partners, introduced Go.Data in late 2019. Developed by the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), the Go.Data platform enables mobile case entry, automated outbreak indicators, and visualization of transmission chains. These features have enabled surveillance teams to detect clusters earlier and prioritize interventions in Cox’s Bazar, even in this challenging camp environment.

“During the 2017 diphtheria outbreak, paper-based systems delayed response and limited coordination,” said Dr Abeed Hasan, National Health Officer for the International Organization for Migration (IOM). “Go.Data transformed outbreak investigation into a faster, data-driven operation,” he added.

Deployed alongside WHO’s Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS), Go.Data strengthened outbreak investigation and contact tracing while complementing national reporting capacities. Combining information from both systems provided reliable, timely evidence to guide interventions across camps and host communities.

Strengthening capacity and local ownership

Technology alone cannot deliver results. From the outset of Go.Data’s deployment, WHO prioritized training of experts and promoted local ownership. As the platform was rolled out in 2019, 30 epidemiology and surveillance staff from IOM, Médecins Sans Frontières, Samaritan’s Purse, and other partners were trained, followed by 35 government and partner focal points. Training covered case investigation, contact tracing, and mapping transmission chains, even in low-connectivity areas. Follow-up trainings were conducted in 2021 and 2022, and a recent session in May 2025 targeted new Community Health Workers, ensuring that all staff were equipped to implement the tool effectively in the field.

“Go.Data addressed critical gaps by digitizing outbreak investigation and enabling near real-time analysis that was previously impossible,” said Mong Kya Sing Marma, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer, FRIENDSHIP. 

Faster detection, better outcomes

The use of Go.Data has significantly improved clinical management and reduced mortality. Prior to its introduction, paper-based systems delayed case registration by up to three days, during which time transmission often continued unchecked. After mid-2019, earlier reporting and faster follow-up contributed to a decline in the number of deaths due to faster case detection, timely contact tracing, and prompt clinical intervention of diphtheria outbreak from 30 in 2017 and 14 in 2018 to only three in 2019, zero in 2020, five in 2021, and zero by 2024–2025. During the same time period, case registration and contact follow-up times also decreased to a maximum of 24 hours, enabling rapid intervention and saving more lives.

During the COVID-19 response, Go.Data supported the Rapid Investigation and Response Teams in tracking cases and contacts. By 2 May 2021, 541 of 579 confirmed COVID-19 cases had been investigated, and 1990 contacts registered, of whom 1624 (82%) had completed follow-up. By August 2021, 2034, of 2475 confirmed cases had been investigated, and 4356 contacts identified, with 2677 (61%) completing follow-up. Some 248 contacts (9.2%) later tested positive.

Supporting national preparedness priorities

The Cox’s Bazar experience demonstrates how digital tools can be used to support teams working in emergency situations to better monitor and control outbreaks.  This initiative aligns with WHO’s priorities on emergency preparedness and response, surveillance strengthening, and health system resilience, while supporting national surveillance led by the Government of Bangladesh.

“By combining digital tools, trained teams, and strong coordination, this experience demonstrated a scalable approach to strengthening outbreak preparedness in high-risk settings,” said Dr Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, WHO Representative in Bangladesh.

Lessons for future health emergencies

Go.Data’s success has been increased by the adaptation to field realities and complementarity with existing systems, while delivering training and encouraging local ownership. Its offline functionality and standardized workflows made it an effective tool for epidemiological reporting even in low-resource, low-connectivity environments, while having pre-trained staff enables rapid activation when new threats emerge.

Currently, Go.Data supports COVID-19 and diphtheria outbreak clusters, enabling rapid case detection, contact tracing, and timely interventions within the refugee camps. Building on these gains, preparations are underway to initiate active cholera reporting using Go.Data, strengthening early detection, enabling faster follow-up, and improving situational awareness for a disease that remains a recurrent risk in Cox’s Bazar, particularly during monsoon seasons.

For more information about this publication, please get in touch with Terence Ngwabe Che, External Communication Officer, Cox’s Bazar Sub Office, WHO Bangladesh, at chet@who.int