Yesterday, we talked a bit about how some companies are clearly trying to capitalize on the Swine Flu craze that is sweeping the nation. Naturally, someone just had to make an iPhone app.
And the winner is IntuApps, which has Swine Flu Tracker, waiting for approval from Apple before it’s released into the App Store. IntuApps’ Barry Schwartz, who is also a blogger, sent along some screenshots of the app. In it, you can see the current Threat Level for the disease, a map showing confirmed and suspected cases, a symptoms area to inform people, and an alert page for breaking news on Swine Flu.
Everyone is joking about Swine Flu because of the whole pig angle, but it is at least somewhat of a serious threat. And while this iPhone app may be the latest thing to capitalize on it, it’s also pretty useful as a way to know what areas to avoid on the go. It’s good to know that IntuApps will be giving the app away for free when it is available in the App Store.
Let’s panic: http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/
Wonder what the TB tracker Map would look like?
Glad to see quotes around ‘pandemic’.
#3, Zybch,
Ya, but apparently China didn’t get the memo.
I’d like to see this app run beside an app that tracks serious highway crashes, with injuries and deaths reported. It would really put this “pandemic” in perspective.
VeraTect twitter feed is by far the best swine flu info. Hell they are the ones that discovered it.
The Google map is a day old.
This app would be more effective if it tracked Mexicans, opulent enough to travel by air. And just plain idiot tourists, who can’t think of anything else to do but visit a possible “plague” ridden country, for their vacation. But I’m sure the early news of this virus, was suppressed for a time, so that tourism and air fares would not be effected. So the outbreak was at its peak, when most of these travelers were already there.
I’m a bit suspicious, that this outbreak is being tracked by various governments, in the interest of germ warfare research. The virus may not actually be a product of deliberate (man-made) design. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t being exploited, every way possible, by more than just this App’s author. “Harmless” germs have been released in major cities, before. To see how they might spread if an enemy did the same with something more lethal. That way, all the big shots could be better protected. Joe Biden’s remark about confinement on planes and trains, is a joke. He, his family, and most congressmen and senators never travel on commercial transport. It either on military aircraft, or private jets. Not because of the germs. But because they don’t trust the maintenance of commercial airlines, or the public air traffic control system. Or even the airports the public lands at. It’s all private planes, private fields, and up to date radar and tracking technology.
#8 & 9, Glenn,
I’m a bit suspicious, that this outbreak is being tracked by various governments, in the interest of germ warfare research. The virus may not actually be a product of deliberate (man-made) design. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t being exploited, every way possible, by more than just this App’s author.
All flu strains are tracked by the CDC and all the other national health tracking agencies as well as the World Health Organization (WHO).
The problem with this strain that has caused the concern is it is very late in the season and appears to be a hybrid, though not uncommon, this is not the usual pattern.
Pigs are susceptible to many of the same diseases as man is but usually have their own versions. It does not appear that this strain originated in pigs and no pigs have even been diagnosed with the disease. The sole reason it got the name “Swine Flue” is that it also carries genetic material from swine flu strains as well as avian (bird) and human strains. Again, while not usual, is not uncommon.
The experts have every reason to be cautious. That is their job.
“H1N1 flu” cases go up while “flu” cases go down. I need an app for that? Duh. Read the label.
You can catch Swine Flu from an iPhone?