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NASA Satellites to Predict Disease Outbreaks

Posted by samzenpus on from the doctor-eye-in-the-sky dept.

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."

4 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. Eventually. by sheehaje · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Eventually, I want to die, its not my right, its my program. Some science assumes that long life means long species survival. I love science, and I like living in a world comfortable enough to sustain 8 billion people. I always wonder if the technology we create sometimes creates a lot of suffering that is endured. On one hand we have food technology that helps feed the word. On the other hand we have over population, deforestation, etcetra. How fast does social science advance with physical science? Satellites for bio-storms. When do we get one that finally figures out that is the social storm that really drives humananity to the future.

  2. Re:Hmmm.... by kcbanner · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    So the sarcasm truck hits the guy...he gets up to see what it was but it backs over him again. Hes left unhurt, but stunned and still not knowing what hit him.

    --
    Obligatory blog plug: http://www.caseybanner.ca/
  3. Re:Ebola, West Nile, Rift Valley by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Can we please not refer to Africa as the "dark continent"? What century is this?

  4. Re:Open API? by $pearhead · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I want a google maps mashup that tells me who in my neighborhood has herpes.
    You know, the risk of getting herpes is quite slim when sitting in front of a computer in your parents' basement 24/7 ... (which I assume you do, since you're on ./).