Virus spreads across Google Earth, virtually

Avain flu on Google Earth

(Credit: Ohio State University)

Biomedical researchers wanted to get a good look at the avian flu virus. And they did not turn to a super microscope. They used Google Earth instead. With Keyhole Markup Language on Google Earth scientists were able to trace the course of the disease over the past decade.

The Google Earth project animates the spread of avian flu virus. In addition the data contains information on all known strains of the evolving flu virus plus all its host organisms. So far avian flu has not proven highly contagious among humans with fewer than 300 known cases worldwide. However, medical research is watching the virus's spread and evolution.

To check out the virus virtually, you need Google Earth downloaded. Then copy this link into your browser.

[Christopher Hall]

Not getting enough publicity?

Since Avian Flu (TM) isn't getting as much media attention as it did a year or two back, they're now resorting to creating falling sky models in Google Earth to scare the pants off people who probably aren't worth the oxygen they consume anyway?

Every few years, something comes along that's going to kill us all. If it isn't one thing, it's certainly another, proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that Chicken Little is a timeless phenomenon.