Science Daily

This article details the development of a new, interactive map of the spread of the avian influenza virus that may help to predict where the next outbreak of the virus is likely to occur. The map, designed by a team of biomedical experts, incorporates genetic, geographic, and evolutionary information to track the spread of the virus.

According to the article, researchers used special software to create an evolutionary tree of the virus's mutations. The tree allows researchers to compare current information about viruses against pre-existing hypotheses about the spread of bird flu. It also provides an innovative way to share information about new outbreaks, which can aid health officials in predicting where countermeasures would be most effective.

According to Daniel Janies, an assistant professor in the department of biomedical informatics at Ohio State University, the map is universally applicable in tracking the spread of infectious agents such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and other diseases. He does note, however, that the current map is incomplete due to the fact that a significant amount of genomic information remains in private hands and inaccessible.