Preparing for Pandemics: Technology for Real-Time Response

As demonstrated by this year’s flu season, even a moderately higher than expected increase in seasonal flu cases can strain a health system. Should a pandemic event in the order of 1918 Spanish flu occur, the impacts on global health security could be catastrophic. Early detection, rapid mobilization of response, and enhanced coordination across a decentralized health system are necessary to reduce the health consequences associated with a pandemic, especially when impacting a health system with a limited surge capacity.

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) recently completed a project that combined two JHU/APL-developed technologies for achieving real-time situational awareness during pandemic events. Dr. Jeff Freeman will discuss the project that simulated a pandemic flu event for the National Capital Region and modeled the overall effect on public health and medical assets.

This event was a part of the Global Health Security Seminar Series, which is co-sponsored by Georgetown’s Center for Global Health Science and Security and the Global Health Initiative.

Link to slides
Link to video recording of the seminar