Facts about rising epidemics
73 deaths were reported as a result of avian flu. This presents an increase of 43 deaths since 2005.
(World Health Organization)
Flu epidemics have historically occurred every 11 to 39 years in the twentieth century. If this trend continues, it is predicted that we can expect a flu epidemic in the next few years.
(Florida Department of Health)
In 2003 more than 8 000 people across 30 countries were infected with the SARS virus, and 750 of them died.
(World Health Organization)
By the end of 2003, there were more than 1 million people in the U.S. living with HIV/AIDS. A further 40 000 were infected in 2005.
(Global Health)
In Sub- Saharan Africa by the end of 2005, 24.5 million people were living with HIV/AIDS. 13,2 million of them are women, children and young people.
(World Health Organization)
In South East Asia 2.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS.
(World Health Organization)
To learn more about the impact of technology on epidemics
The Grid Project:
Practical Action: using technology in poor communities:
University of Illinois, Chicago, School of Public Health
India HIV/AIDS Online Resource Center
John Hopkins Center for Clinical Global Health Education
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): International Training laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory: Access Grid Technology
Iconnect Online:
Pamphlet prepared by Bev Witten for EDUCE – 102 class
Responding to Epidemics
with Technology
Innovative and timely responses to epidemics are becoming critically important. The recent avian flu scare is an example of emerging virus strains that are complex. Effective solutions require a broad range of knowledge and resources. Technology is becoming increasingly important as a tool to facilitate these solutions.
Technology
Innovation
Collaboration
Access Grid technology used to combat
the outbreak of *SARS
(Argonne National Laboratory)
*SARS – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Building solutions
Although epidemics may break out in certain regions or countries, they are rarely confined and contained in these areas. A collective, collaborative global response is required.
Technology has been used to:
Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices
Follow trends
Communicate, educate and disseminate information.
High speed computing used across Asia and Europe to combat avian virus
Examples using Technology
John Hopkins Center for Clinical Global Health Education. The advanced network of internet2 enabled doctors at John Hopkins University to participate in an interactive HIV/AIDS clinic with doctors in India.
HIV/AIDS Online Resource Center acts as a clearinghouse in India, disseminating information through E-resources, E-forum, E-library, E-training and E-support.
The Grid Project demonstrates a collaboration between eleven United Kingdom universities and research laboratories using high speed computing which allowed them to collectively work across Asian and European countries to develop a drug that would combat the avian virus.
Using technology appropropriately
While technology has advanced the ways in which countries are able to colloborate and find solutions, using it appropriately is important.
In many communities in Africa, it is taboo to talk about sex as is the case in Kenya. Practical Action is a group that demonstrated the use of simple but appropriate technology using the radio to reach illiterate, poor people in rural communities. (75 % of rural populations are illiterate.) Debates and discussions with local experts and policymakers were broadcast on the radio providing communities with access to information on HIV/AIDS in their local languages.