01545nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001653001200042653003200054653003100086653002500117653002300142653001700165100001700182700001600199245010900215856026000324300000600584490000600590520074300596       2012                            d10aPoverty10aNeglected Tropical Diseases10aHealth information systems10aDisease surveillance10aControl programmes10aAsia Pacific1 aBergquist RN1 aWhittaker M00aControl of neglected tropical diseases in Asia Pacific: implications for health information priorities.   uhttp://download.springer.com/static/pdf/211/art%253A10.1186%252F2049-9957-1-3.pdf?originUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fidpjournal.biomedcentral.com%2Farticle%2F10.1186%2F2049-9957-1-3&token2=exp=1473945848~acl=%2Fstatic%2Fpdf%2F211%2Fart%25253A10.1186%25252F2049-9957-1  a10 v13 a<p>Poverty magnifies limitations posed by traditional biases and environmental risks. Any approach towards disease control needs to recognise that socially embedded vulnerabilities can be as powerful as externally imposed infections. Asia Pacific has a specific panorama of infectious diseases, which, in common with other endemic areas, have a tendency to emerge or re-emerge if not carefully monitored. Sustained control aiming at elimination requires strong emphasis on surveillance and response. Well-designed informatics platforms can improve support systems and strengthen control activities, as they rapidly locate high-risk areas and provide detailed, up-to-date information on the performance of ongoing control programmes.</p>