NASA Satellites to Predict Disease Outbreaks

coondoggie writes "NASA and its Applied Sciences Program will be using 14 satellites to watch the Earth's environment and help predict and prevent infectious disease outbreaks around the world. Through orbiting satellites, data is collected daily to monitor environmental changes. That information is then passed on to agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Defense who then apply the data to predict and track disease outbreaks and assist in making public health policy decisions. The use of remote sensing technology helps scientists predict the outbreak of some of the most common and deadly infectious diseases such as Ebola, West Nile virus and Rift Valley Fever."

Comments

Weather

[Kryptonian Jor-El]

I can't get a reliable weather forecast, how the hell do they expect to follow climate change to determine disease outbreak?

Open API?

[hmccabe]

I want a google maps mashup that tells me who in my neighborhood has herpes.

no, but it's available on your car's gps

[circletimessquare]

"ding dong. turn left in two miles to avoid heavy traffic on the freeway. but avoid the thruway, as there is an rift valley fever outbreak downtown. ding dong"

But the biggest threat by far is...

[Edgyboy]

obesity, of course - worst dieses in the history of the human race. (Obesity = combination of plaque, TB and AIDS on steroids).
But there is a way out!
Every time this new satellite spots a McDonald's or KFC opening somewhere in the world, USAF bombs it to obesity oblivion.

I can even see the promotional campaign:

''Fighting humanity problems with JDAM's''