Computers track spread of illnesses

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   Computers track spread of illnesses 

Indiana team keeping close watch over flu 

�Associated Press | Wednesday, February 15, 2006 (excerpt)

FORT WAYNE -- "While the world prepares for a possible flu pandemic, 

most Hoosiers are just hoping they don't come down with the annual flu 

strain. So far, so good, doctors and health officials say.

"It's pretty mild so far," said Allen County Commissioner of Health Dr. 

Deborah McMahan. "If we're going to get something, I think it will hit us 

here in the next week or two."

But knowing when the avian flu, which has a 53 percent mortality rate, or 

another deadly strain will hit the United States requires a more 

collaborative effort on the local, state and national levels.

Tracking influenza of all kinds, as well as other diseases in Indiana, is the 

job of 19 disease trackers called epidemiologists from the Indiana State 

Department of Health. Ten sit in front of computers in secured offices on 

the fifth floor of the department's downtown Indianapolis offices. Another 

nine are scattered around the state, including one in Fort Wayne.

Every three hours, information about the chief complaints of patients 

seen in 45 Indiana hospital emergency rooms is sent to the computers. 

The watchful eyes of the disease trackers note any surges of respiratory 

complaints; increases in gastro-intestinal, neurological and chest pain; 

and asthma symptoms."

http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.php?id=33983&adid=city

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Computers track spread of illnesses Posted: February 14 2006 at 10:02pm
	Computers track spread of illnesses Indiana team keeping close watch over flu �Associated Press \| Wednesday, February 15, 2006 (excerpt) FORT WAYNE -- "While the world prepares for a possible flu pandemic, most Hoosiers are just hoping they don't come down with the annual flu strain. So far, so good, doctors and health officials say. "It's pretty mild so far," said Allen County Commissioner of Health Dr. Deborah McMahan. "If we're going to get something, I think it will hit us here in the next week or two." But knowing when the avian flu, which has a 53 percent mortality rate, or another deadly strain will hit the United States requires a more collaborative effort on the local, state and national levels. Tracking influenza of all kinds, as well as other diseases in Indiana, is the job of 19 disease trackers called epidemiologists from the Indiana State Department of Health. Ten sit in front of computers in secured offices on the fifth floor of the department's downtown Indianapolis offices. Another nine are scattered around the state, including one in Fort Wayne. Every three hours, information about the chief complaints of patients seen in 45 Indiana hospital emergency rooms is sent to the computers. The watchful eyes of the disease trackers note any surges of respiratory complaints; increases in gastro-intestinal, neurological and chest pain; and asthma symptoms." http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.php?id=33983&adid=city