Contact-tracing apps unlikely to help hantavirus outbreaks

Contact-tracing applications, widely utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic, have demonstrated limited efficacy in managing smaller-scale outbreaks. While these digital tools proved instrumental in tracking the spread of the novel coronavirus, their effectiveness diminishes significantly when applied to diseases with different transmission dynamics and lower incidence rates, such as hantavirus. The infrastructure and data collection methods optimized for a global pandemic are not readily transferable to localized public health challenges, suggesting a need for more targeted and adaptable technological solutions for future health crises.