LAREDO, TX – The City of Laredo Health Department and the Laredo Independent School District are installing the Argus1 System that city officials say is the first Internet-based medical decision support system in the nation for early identification of H1N1 virus infection and other communicable diseases

Laredo, in the southern part of Texas, is on the Rio Grande river and borders Mexico.

In addition to the virus commonly called "swine flu," the system helps school nurses and other health providers care for sick students or staff, provides instant alerts on recommended vaccine and continuous reporting and tracking of outbreaks to authorities.

Argus1, developed by Argus One Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rosenberg, Texas, near Houston, also has the potential to track other infectious diseases and chemical agents identified as potential biological or chemical weapons used by terrorists, according to city officials.

The system also provides a reporting function to the City of Laredo Health Department, which has played a key role in the design and development of the system during the past six years

City officials say the surveillance system is an important adjunct to track and monitor disease from the onset at the provider level and to quickly report to the health department for a rapid response intervention to contain disease.

The system is secured and uses both landline and wireless Internet-connected computers.

A critical part of the program involves assessment of patients' signs, symptoms and test results, which are instantly transformed into a comprehensive list of possible disease causes and detailed information about each of the diseases.

"As the school year begins, we are entering a potentially very dangerous period with a new influenza virus that particularly affects young persons," said Robert Burns, director of information technology for Argus One Systems, Inc.

"Our ability to build on our existing relationship with the LISD and the CLHD should afford the children, as well as the entire community of Laredo, a proven and unsurpassed level of added protection," he said.

Argus1 was introduced in Laredo as part of a test site from 2003 to 2006. Its re-deployment for the 2009-2010 school year is based on extensive testing and refinement of the system, with particular attention to the new Influenza A H1N1 virus, said city officials.

Argus1 also can be used by physician offices, emergency medical responders and hospital emergency departments, Burns said.

"Argus1 will be an important part of our "Fight the Flu" program, said Patricia Keck, director of health services for the school district. "By quickly receiving reports from school nurses, LISD Health Services Department in conjunction with the City of Laredo is able to track illness patterns. If an illness pattern develops at an LISD school, we will provide the school with intensified flu prevention recommendations."

"This surveillance system is an important adjunct to track and monitor disease from the onset at the provider level and to quickly report to the CLHD for a rapid response intervention to contain disease," said Hector Gonzalez, MD, director of the city's health department.