Gamers' world reveals secrets of the next epidemic

Princeton epidemiologists say outbreak of "Corrupted Blood" within World of Warcraft is similar to real-world disease spreading.

The story "Gamers' world reveals secrets of the next epidemic" published August 21, 2007 at 5:35 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[zbuford]

How Utterly Dumb

What a ridiculous article. So because someone takes a video game character and risks it health means they would take the same risk in real life? Hello, this is a game and their characters get killed all the time in the game.

[ArT_Ownz]

that may be what shes talking about

"Hello, this is a game and their characters get killed all the time in the game."
that could be the factor.

[Jahntassa]

The particular point..

The particular point they made was someone thinking 'Oh, I can take a closer look without getting infected'. I can definitely see someone thinking that outside of a game. Someone thinking "Oh, i'll be fine" and inadvertently infecting someone else.

[fuzzikitten]

How Utterly Brilliant

Anyone with experience in modelling complex systems can appreciate the immeasurable value in using MMORPGs in this way. I had thought for a long time that the economic systems in such games as Everquest would make for great testing grounds of different economic policies. Of course it's different than the real world, but a system with real people controlling millions of entities, each with their own judgement systems/rationals/etc will always be better than a model comprised of simple AI entities. Glad to see this idea is taking root.

[inachu]

Many people still don't know the cure for avian virus.

If you get sick from the avian flu virus just eat some kimchi.