Saving Lives in the Next Pandemic

In 1918, a flu pandemic swept the world and killed an estimated 50 - 100 million people -- at a time when the global population was less than one third of what it is today. This pandemic occurred when an avian flu virus, to which humans had no immunity, acquired the ability for efficient human-to-human transmission. Today the avian flu H5N1 virus is spreading across the world, and evidence from its human cases suggests that it has the potential to cause a pandemic as severe as that of 1918.

In the event of such a pandemic, the health care system will be overwhelmed. Even with emergency measures, hospitals and health professionals will not have the capacity to treat more than a very small portion of those who become infected by the virus. Coping with such a widespread disaster and reducing the loss of life and will require individuals and neighbors to inform and organize themselves, and one of the largest challenges of pandemic preparedness is how to do this effectively.

This project is developing innovative solutions for informing and organizing individuals and neighbors to create resilient communities in the event of a pandemic. The team is working with domain experts, technologists, and organizations seeking innovative solutions to this challenge. They are working together to bring to reality solutions with the potential for saving many lives.

Presentations

Reports

Press

Seminar, 2007 Spring

Links