The coronavirus (COVD-19) originates from a virus family associated
The following are common signs of coronavirus according to Who:
with Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and common cold. Researchers say that the
corona virus originates from animals and spreads to humans after which people
infect each other. Animals such as bats and snakes consist of viruses that are
deadly to human health with researchers claiming that other animals contain
different virus strains but are yet to spread to humans.
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is another infection with similar origins as the corona virus and poses risks to human health as well.
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is another infection with similar origins as the corona virus and poses risks to human health as well.
The following are common signs of coronavirus according to Who:
a) Breathing problems
b) Excess coughing
c) High fever
d) Respiratory based
issues such as gasping for breath
Preventive Measures:
a) Nose and mouth covering
during sneezing
b) Cooking food well such as
meat
c) Washing hands
d) Avoiding contact with those
infected or showing signs
AI and Data Analytics to measure and prevent Coronavirus
Predictive analytics and big data have
become a powerful tool for combating deadly disease outbreaks such as
coronavirus and SARS.
BlueDot is one AI start-up that has
developed intelligent systems that sift through data about people to
determine the chances of disease occurrence. The AI platform from BlueDot is
among the latest technological advances using data analytics to map and prevent
diseases. Something quite interesting is that BlueDot predicted the SARS
pandemic and turned out to be true. The SARS outbreak came with devastating
effects and claimed the lives of almost 1,000 people. The outbreak alert about
the Coronavirus on December 2019 is another evidence attesting to the powerful
nature of AI technology. This later came true as the outbreak became mainstream
on February 2nd, 2020.
Natural language processing (NLP) is one
tool used by BlueDot to track diseases with the company being successful in
detecting diseases around the globe. For instance, BlueDot analyzes human
languages around the world and use the information to assist them forecast
disease outbreaks. Machine learning is another technology used by BlueDot
with the algorithms offering updated information about possible disease
occurrences. Nevertheless, the #AI technology at BlueDot saves time and
resources by empowering health professionals with information on prevention
measures. Often times, disease prevention poses threats compared to predicting
and thanks to the machine learning tools, health specialists focus on patient
safety.
Insilico Medicine is another
start-up focused on using analytics in disease prevention. Based in Maryland,
USA, Insilico Medicine is currently developing technology that will inform
doctors about molecules capable of fighting against the corona virus. The
AI system at Insilico Medicine is fast and accurate having recently
analyzed molecules and provided feedback about molecules suited to counter the corona virus. The start-up is currently developing a
database of molecular information that medical researchers
can
use in their projects and more so combating deadly outbreaks including the
corona virus.
Harvard Medical School is spearheading efforts to find solutions
for the coronavirus by using machine learning technology to review data and
information from various sources, including patient records, social media and
public health data. As a result of a natural
language processing tool, researchers at Harvard Medical School can search online
information about the corona virus and understand the current location of the
outbreak. For example, NLP is aiding in distinguishing between people
complaining about corona virus symptoms and those discussing about the disease but
not affected. According to the HMS, the patterns in online media can facilitate
discovery of a location outbreak and promote increased awareness on potential
solutions.
The
University of Southampton also is undertaking research efforts in the current corona virus
outbreak with the institution using AI technology to model data from
search engines to map the outbreak. According to the researchers, AI technology
is assisting them to understand the movement patterns of the corona virus from
Wuhan to other parts of China and the rest of the world. These machine learning
and AI technologies have assisted researchers to predict the virus, its
structure and its spreading methods. Consequently, this will help health
professionals understand the solutions needed to combat further spread of the
virus.
Geographic Information Systems Technology
The GIS technology has
become an important tool for stopping the spread of the corona virus with John
Hopkins University leading the way in this area. For example, the institution
has a dashboard that shows all cases of corona virus around the world as seen
from the diagram below:
Data
mining is critical for GIS technology to work because of using information to
detect areas where people talk about the disease. Social media sites are good
information sources for GIS as the technology maps the area of interest where
people are talking about the corona virus.
Accordingly, prevention measures can
be implemented since these heatmaps can better track both the location and the
spread of a disease. Ten years ago, it was practically
impossible to
track diseases; today, with AI, machine learning and GIS, data mining and
extracting insights is both easier and more powerful at location viruses. The
bottom line: prevention response time is quicker today.
Action Plan by the World Health Organization against Corona virus
(COVID-19)
The who is leading
efforts against combating the spread of the
corona virus with global professionals convening at Switzerland to
lay out plans. The first priority according to WHO is determining information
available on the corona virus to better map the situation and develop concrete
solutions. Secondly, the WHO is measuring loopholes in the current virus
outbreak to foster collaboration needed to stop further spread.Research funding of the corona virus
is another key area under focus by the WHO with the organization calling
governments and organizations to mobilize resources in equal measure. Part of
the plan is to develop measures that will prevent further spread of the
corona virus in future. The special meeting convened by the WHO will
also discuss vaccine and drug development to prevent outbreaks.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the
director of the World Health Organization is at the forefront of combating the
coronavirus and called for collaboration between researchers and scientists.
According to the who director, the success against coronavirus pandemic lies in
the research community working together to fight the outbreak by bring the best
minds together. The Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease
Preparedness in partnership with the WHO is currently working round the clock
to spearhead research efforts such as technology required to address the
coronavirus outbreak.
Besides funding needed to create
solutions for the current coronavirus outbreak, the WHO is encouraging
dissemination of data among researchers, government and business community to
better fight the disease. According to the WHO, information sharing will ensure
that the virus is well understood, and the public will join in the fight by
adopting best practices. Collective responsibility is another priority
discussed at the
Geneva
meeting with delegates stressing the need for frameworks and implementation
plans that will respond to the crisis on time.
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