Mapping the swine flu outbreak
April 28th, 2009 | Published in Google Earth
By now most of you have probably heard the news about the recent influenza outbreak in Mexico that is spreading rapidly around the world. Several people and organizations have used My Maps or the Google Maps API to put together their own maps illustrating the latest locations of outbreaks:
- HealthMap.org, which tracks outbreaks of infectious diseases globally, uses the Google Maps API on their site to tie together data from several sources.
- Ushahidi.com, a website that 'crowdsources crisis information', is also using the Google Maps API to display the reports that have been submitted to them.
- Dr. Henry Niman, who studies the evolution of viruses, has created a My Map tracking suspected and confirmed cases of this flu. He has been updating it regularly based on media reports and emails he's received:
- Another popular My Map tracking the outbreak was started by a computer scientist in the UK, who has also been accepting user contributions to the map:
You can view the latest updates to the My Maps while on-the-go using the My Maps Editor if you have an Android-powered phone.
Because these maps use data from different sources, such as news reports and collaborative contributions, their content may differ. You can find more, updated information about swine flu from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.