This document discusses the need for international harmonization of emergency notification systems, using Finland as a case study. It argues that current warning systems are insufficient for some food and health emergencies. Well-focused mobile warning systems could help target those most at risk and save lives. However, no single mobile technology is superior, and identifying the origin of infections and tracking contamination remains problematic. The document also notes challenges around international roaming of emergency notifications and calls for technology providers and authorities to work together on globally sustainable mobile warning applications.

1. UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ
The Need for International Harmonization
of Emergency Notification Systems:
The Case of Finland
By:
Jaana Kuula, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Markku Häkkinen, USA
Jukka Jalasvuori, Emergency Response Centre, Finland
GRF One Health Summit 2012
19-22 February in Davos, Switzerland

2. UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ
Current warning systems in food and
health emergencies are insufficient
 In some food and health emergencies television, radio,
printed media and internet are insufficient media for
public warnings.
 The may
- be too slow,
- miss the right people or
- create anxiety among the wrong people.

3. UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ
Well focused mobile warning systems
could save lives and prevent additional loss
 Mobile warning systems may be targeted to reach
efficiently particularly those people, who are in a real
danger.
 People may be warned selectively
- in certain geographical areas only, or
- by some other criteria.
 For example, people may be warned because of
- Flying on a same plane with seriously infected people
- Eating in a certain restaurant
- Shopping certain food articles in certain grocery stores
- Living along a particular household water pipe line,
etc.

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Superior systems are missing
 There are three major technologies for building mobile
warning systems:
- Text messaging systems
- Push messages in smart phone applications
- Cell broadcasting systems.
 None of these is superior:
- Text messaging is expensive and non-scalable
- Smart phones require user’s own activity in installing
warning applications, and each operating system
requires a different version of warning applications
- Cell broadcast has limited abilities in reaching
selective target groups, and requires user’s own
activity in activating the personal device.

5. UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ
Problems in identifying the origin of infection
and in tracking the path of contamination
 Although the mobile warning systems are efficient in
reaching the right people, it does not help at all, if the origin
of the food or health crisis can not be identified and found.
 Also, if there is no fast method of tracking the spreading
path of the illness, focused mobile systems can not be
used either.
 Creating digital tracking systems for the supply and delivery
chains of locally produced and imported food might help
stopping epidemics faster. The same applies for internet
orders where purchasing counterfeit drugs is very common
and a huge risk for health.
 Also the customer data bases of retail trade, restaurants
etc. will help identifying the people who are in danger of
getting ill.

6. UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ
International roaming is also
problematic
 As people and materials move actively accross international
borders, so do also illnesses and polluted foodstuffs.
 Ironically, digital data, which basically moves at the speed of
light, might not reach the speed of people and physical matters,
in the cases where the data should cross international
borders, and especially, when the content of the data is about
warning people of getting seriously – or even lethally ill.
 The high roaming costs of delivering mobile emergency
messages from one country to another, might prevent using
them at all, and in some systems the international roaming of
mobile messages is missing completely.

7. UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ
Technology providers and authorities
could together find solutions for
sustainable mobile applications globally
 Technically, sustainable mobile warning systems could be
installed globally in case of food, health and other
emergencies at a fairly reasonable cost.
 It would only require common understanding and
ageements between technology providers and authorities in
different countries to build that kind of systems.
 It would also require putting humane values and needs first,
and economic values second.
 Investments would pay themselves back latest on the day
when the crisis is at each one’s own door.
Thank you!