Here’s an example of an elementary paper-based system set up in a real life setting just like the one I described:

The a4 size paper in landscape format includes dates of each epidemiological week, all cases by gender and broad age groups ( <5 and >=5 years) as well as treatment (oral rehydration salts versus intravenous fluids) and deaths by age group.

These data items are collected by selected staff before and during the epidemic period and the last three columns with case fatality rate and cumulative CFR are calculated by one person who will ring the warning bells for additional assistance in case of need.

Needless to say, training of staff in the correct (and standard) use of the forms and case definitions should occur in pre-epidemic periods.

These forms can be collected weekly by a local authority who will be in charge of managing the supplies and issuing the health regulations to the public and health staff.