A New Twist on Distance Medicine: “Digital Public Health”

Traditionally, there is only one way to measure a pulse — until Japanese tech company Fujitsu entered the picture and created a new tool that can calculate pulse rate based on changes in facial brightness….via smart phone, tablet or PC camera. We already have the ability to scan thermal body temperature at a distance digitally, and now with the new pulse scanning technology, implications for public health (and personal privacy) arise.

For example, we can increase early detection of cardiac conditions by allowing an individual to electronically self-monitor their pulse for irregularities in real-time from their phone — the data could be subsequently analyzed by a physician. These technologies could also be used in biosecurity, to scan for ill or febrile individuals in crowded places, in which their thermal body temperatures and/or heart rates would be potentially unknowingly scanned. 

These advances continue to revolutionize the way we practice medicine and move us toward a new paradigm in public health and security. Such technologies are ripe for partnering with mapping applications, improving the detail to which we can visualize illness trends.

Source: http://www.Forbes,com

Oksana Hucul, Public Health Liaison, gis@vertices.com

Increased Severity of Antibiotic Resistance: Lethal Superbug CRE in the U.S.

We are no strangers to E.Coli. The bacteria is naturally present in our soil, water, and digestive tracts, as well as contaminating our food supply every now and then. E.Coli — along with Salmonella, Klebsiella, and a host more — all belong to the Enterobacteriaceae family of bacteria, which are becoming harder to treat due to their increasing resistance to common antibiotics over the years.

Select strains of enterobacteriaceae-based infections, such as klebsiella pneumoniae, have grown immune to the treatment of routine antibiotics, and ultimately to carbapenems (a broad spectrum class of antibiotics), which is the last resort regimen. This progressive resistance to available antibiotics has resulted in the development of “superbug” Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE — a nightmare scenario for public health and healthcare officials. CRE infections are most common in healthcare settings among individuals with already serious conditions; it has a high rate of morbidity and mortality, killing up to 50% of infected patients. At present, CRE is not a reportable disease, but it is present in 42 U.S. states as determined by two surveillance systems, the Emerging Infections Program and National Healthcare Safety Network which track healthcare-associated infections; this map indicates CRE trends and prevalence in the U.S.

The CDC has issued a Health Advisory urging healthcare professionals and facilities to take extra preventative measures to safeguard against CRE’s spread. Uniform reporting requirements would help in making CRE more readily traceable among healthcare institutions and communities.

Data Source: www.cdc.gov/hai

Oksana Hucul, Public Health Liaison, gis@vertices.com

Disease Trend in Your Area

User generated content that track and shows trend of sickness in your area. Who is sick is an interactive map that shows trending sickness within a locality, and offers the opportunity for users to discuss the symptoms with each other. It allows the users to predict their vulnerability based on their own predisposition ailments within their area.

Data Source:http://www.whoissick.org/sickness/

Renice Obure, Intern, gis@vertices.com

Hurricane Sandy: Who died, Where and Why?

Hurricane Sandy sure did wreck havoc into our lives! But it is over now and things have been fleetingly getting back to normal. The economic, health and environmental impact of the storm are just beginning to be felt but that is for the government to worry about. There are individuals however who will never forget Sandy. People who will never get to see their loved ones again, thanks to Sandy.

This interactive map showing names of people who died, where they died, nature of their death and their age was first published by the New York Times based on data that was collected as deaths were being reported.

Visit theguardian for downloadable data on all reported deaths across the continent.

Data Source: The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com

Renice Obure, Research Intern, gis@vertices.com

Visualize Planned Parenthood Clinics

LOCATION OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINICS

A new interactive map shows that planned parenthood clinics targets minority neighborhoods. The map released by a group called Protecting Black life uses census data to visualize just where the clinics have been situated. To view more click here

Visit lifesite to read more on this issue

Data Source: Protecting BlackLife

http://www.protectingblacklife.org/index.html

Renice Obure, Research Intern, Vertices, gis@vertices.com

After the 2nd Presidential Debate: The maps are talking

MAP OF THE POLLS AFTER THE 2ND DEBATE

The debate held on 10/16/2012 was much heated the first. Now opinion polls are rushing to understand the after-effects on voters on states across the country. Even better this has been mapped here

Visit the economist online for the latest interactive map and view a trend by taking a look at the 2008 results.

Data source: the economist online

Renice Obure, Research intern, Vertices, gis@vertices.com

Tracking the US Drought Over Time

US DROUGHT MAP

2011 & 2012 has proven to be the year of drought with Texas taking it’s worst hit last year.  This interactive map from NPR shows trend across time from 2011 to present with the latest update from August 2012. Interacting with the data on the map reveals more trends across several years.

Visit npr drought for more information on counties severely affected.

Data Source: Data Sources: U.S. Drought Monitor, National Drought Mitigation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Send feedback | Updated 8/23/12

Renice Obure, Research Intern, Vertices gis@vertices.org

Visualising and tracking homicide cases in New York City

Reports filed at the New York Police Department and in the courts can be now be visualized in an interactive map that has been released by the new york times. The map outlines the frequencies and more vital information on the crime report.

Read the full story from NY Times here

Source: NY Times NY REGION

http://projects.nytimes.com/crime/homicides/map

Renice Obure, Research Intern, Vertices, gis@vertices.org

Realigning of national boundaries

THE NEW BOUNDARIES MAP

South Sudan was the result of more than a decade long civil strife in the Republic of Sudan. Now with more economic and civil unrest occurring remotely in different areas of the world, there is an anticipation of a looming realignment of  the national boundaries that would result in a new map looking like this according to an opinion piece in NY TIMES Published on 09/22/2012

The colored areas highlight the areas in which new boundaries are likely to occur due to the current and political atmosphere of these areas.

For more information visit the  interactive map 

For this piece there is country specific information for Belgium, Congo DRC, Mali, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, (Siberia-China-Russia) and Korea.

Source: NY TIMES OPINION by Jacob and Farag Khanna

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/23/opinion/sunday/the-new-world.html

Renice Obure, Research Intern, Vertices, gis@vertices.com

Food Crisis: Who gets affected

MAP OF FOOD SPIKES EFFECTS AROUND THE WORLD
So there is a looming food health crisis? Who will get affected. Food crisis around the world have been known to cause political uncertainty, instability, inflation and civil unrest

Oxfam has made an interactive map showing the food spikes volatility points around the world which get the worst out of any food crisis

Check out the the food volatility points and  what else you can do to help the situation at Oxfam
Source: Oxfam America

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/articles/food-price-spikes

Renice Obure, Research Intern, Vertices, gis@vertices.org