Google: Predict and Prevent
It took the entire world – people of all races, countries and religions – to eradicate smallpox. The final naturally occurring cases of “Variola major” in Bangladesh in 1978 and “Variola minor” in Somalia in 1977 marked the end to a chain of suffering and early death dating back to the Biblical plagues, and to Pharoah Ramses, who died from the very same disease. Since then we have continued to face countless pandemics – the Black Death, cholera, and now bird flu, SARS, HIV/AIDS and a new generation of zoonotic diseases – diseases that, often because of changes in population or climate, jump from animals to humans. We can’t be sure where the next smallpox will emerge, but we can be sure that it will take an effort larger than any single person or organization to defeat it.
Google’s Predict and Prevent initiative is working with partners to use digital, genomic and IT technology to identify “hot spots” of emerging threats and provide early warning before they become global crises. When you’re fighting a pandemic, early detection and early response can be the difference between dozens and hundreds of millions infected. What better birthday present could we offer the world after our 20th year, than to say we joined hands with a global movement and helped prevent the next smallpox?
Rapid ecological and social changes are increasing the risk of emerging threats, from infectious diseases to drought and other environmental disasters. This initiative will use information and technology to empower communities to predict and prevent emerging threats before they become local, regional, or global crises. Google.org’s initial focus will be on emerging infectious diseases, which are on the rise worldwide. Climate change, urbanization, and rising international travel and trade all contribute to this threat. Moreover, humans and animals are coming into closer contact because of environmental degradation and increased demand for animal products. Nearly three out of four new diseases in the last three decades have spread from animals to humans. While everyone faces increasing risk from emerging infectious diseases, the world’s poor – who have minimal or no access to health care and may live with and depend on animals for their livelihood – are exceptionally vulnerable and stand to suffer the most. This initiative supports two inter-related pathways from prediction to prevention. The first is vulnerability mapping and identification of “hot spots.” The second, creating systems to better detect threats to provide early warning and enable a rapid response.
Tags: Biology, Biotechnology, Emerging disease, Health, Medicine, Microbiology, Science
A very encouraging and much sought after gesture of goodwill from Google. Given its high penetration, effective logistics, Google mapping and other features; this not-selfish giant stands to contribute immensely.
…and you can use Google Map to see where you’ve been and where you’re going…B-)
There is no substitute for discovery: all the hypotheses in the world will not help you know what is where, adn how it varies. A VERY good initiative.