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Computer imaging is already helping experts prepare for the arrival of Bird Flu. Using technology incorporated with Google Earth, experts can zoom in using satellite images and maps on an area affected by the H5N1 virus to spot poultry farms in the area. This information can then be quickly sent to the health officials so they can spot check all likely trouble spots.

Imagine having this sort of help even a few years ago. When bird flu hits an area, a quarantine zone is put into effect. But to know what is in that quarantine zone is not easy - at least it wasn’t. Instead of walking or driving around the area, now all that has to be done is zoom in via any new computer and see exactly what buildings, water holes and potential “hot spots” exist.

Although he University of Pennsylvania (and others) developed GIS technology to monitor poultry flocks in 1998, it seems that only now experts are planning or even beginning to use the technology. Declan Butler, a senior reporter at “Nature” put the software into action in December 2005. Using Google Earth, Butler mapped each of the then 1800 outbreaks of avian influenza since 2004. In so doing, they managed to get a visual map of bird flu outbreaks. This has since been incorporated by several companies to show where both humans and animals have been infected.

Now it seems that several states in America are planning to get the technology into place for later this year. But, since Google Earth, its search engine and global mapping are anyway, well, just that - global, this type of help should be used world-wide. It is easy and cheap. Again, the problem trying to isolate and quarantine and fight bird flu is that it has wings. The virus spreads quickly in all directions. Being able to see a satellite image of what surrounds the “hot spot” certainly makes both the forecasting and quick action possible. Privacy is another problem. Comments?

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