Objective To describe the system named Bonis, which uses Information and Communication Technology to prevent, warn, monitor and control the spread of febrile syndromes and influenza like illness (ILI) at the community level.

Methods Bonis has a kernel free software application; Asterisk, a phone center with VoIP service, PHP as Script language and Mysql as data base management. The system was implemented in a primary healthcare.

Results The developed system has the ability to record, classify, and prioritise automatically through the Interactive Voice Response the suspected cases. It has been programmed in a PHP language script AGI to improve the functionality of the Asterisk, in a way that during the user call to report a possible case, the system feeds a database, through the manager module based in a web application developed in PHP. The system, to which the users access from a mobile or fixed telephone, automatically receives the call with 9 questions on signs and symptoms. The system is working since May 2010 and records the phone calls correctly; follow-ups of these patients are performed by the teams within a period of 24 h.

Conclusion The developed system is allowing the community to notify and register events that require surveillance, and the community health agents is prioritising visits to those homes from where fever cases are reported for sooner and more appropriate interventions.