EbolaSecuriport’s advanced biometric immigration control systems help in fight against Ebola

Securiport says it is supporting the fight against the Ebola virus in West Africa by providing advanced biometric screening technologies and comprehensive contact tracing data analytics to help governments and health organizations monitor and control the spread of the virus. The company notes that its immigration control systems are now in place across a total of seven West African nations, including Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Ivory Coast.

“One of the more complex challenges in the fight against the spread of Ebola is managing the flow of infected individuals from one country to the next,” stated Anibal Cheble, general manager of Securiport Sierra Leone. “Our intelligent biometric technology and data analytics keep governments informed and empowered. With our tools, they can effectively monitor the flow of people from across borders, making it easier to stop the virus from transferring from region to region.”

Governments in the region are faced with considerable challenges due to the lack of infrastructure and systems in place to monitor individuals’ contact with infected citizens, or transit through areas where infection has been documented. The symptoms of the Ebola virus are not manifested until weeks after infection, therefore travelers may pass the virus inadvertently.

Local governments have already experienced negative economic consequences as the epidemic has worsened. Many airlines have suspended all commercial flights into regions where infection has been documented. This has hampered commerce and caused loss of revenue from tourism and leisure activities. The epidemic could cost local economies hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Part of the solution to controlling and suppressing this outbreak is to conduct risk assessment and contact tracing,” added Anibal Cheble. “Knowing where a passenger has been, where they are going or what and whom they’ve come into contact with can be vital information to help control the spread.”

Securiport says that its biometric solutions use ultrasound technology to provide accurate identity verification reporting. The biometric data is collected and integrated into a comprehensive database of traveler activity. Using data visualization and analytics software, the solution provides users with complex risk assessment modeling and contract tracing by using Big Data to identify patterns and provide decision support metrics.

The company says that through this two-fold approach of data gathering and analytics, Securiport provides government leaders and humanitarian groups with deeper insight into the flow of travelers so groups can take action to curb the spread of the virus. Securiport notes that it funds the implementation of the immigration systems at no cost to local governments.

Currently, Securiport immigration systems are operational in Sierra Leone, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Equatorial Guinea, with new implementations in Liberia and Guinea pending activation. In addition, Securiport is seeking advice from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) personnel on the ground where the Ebola viral disease is active for the purpose of deploying the Epidemic Control System (EPS), a proprietary software which, working in tandem with the immigration systems, helps in tracking passengers who have recently been in or near the affected regions.