BlueDot, a Canadian monitoring platform, anticipated the coronavirus outbreak in China as early as December 31—a full week before the rest of the world became aware of the crisis.
The artificial intelligence system determined that the virus would extend from Wuhan to Bangkok, Seoul, and Tokyo. Its algorithm analyzed news content across 65 languages, data on animal diseases, social media posts, and airline ticket sales information.
Kamran Khan, the creator of this AI, was inspired to build such a system following the 2003 SARS outbreak. At that time, the disease emerged in Chinese provinces before reaching Toronto, where it claimed the lives of 44 people.
Khan remarks that the current situation in China evokes a strong sense of déjà vu. BlueDot's findings are being shared with healthcare authorities in a dozen countries, including the United States and Canada, as well as airlines and hospitals that may receive infected patients.
Approximately 2,000 individuals in China have been infected with the coronavirus, with over 40 fatalities reported. The virus spreads from person to person through airborne droplets, and scientists are actively working on a vaccine. As of January 27, the death toll from the new type of pneumonia caused by the 2019-nCoV coronavirus has risen to 80.
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In response to the risk of infection spreading, authorities initially sealed off the city, then extended similar restrictions to more than 20 provinces and municipalities across China. These protective measures now affect over a billion people.
screenshot from WeChat – People wear masks trying to protect themselves from Coronavirus outbreak
Without a compelling reason, residents can no longer leave Wuhan; everyone remains in place. The airport, train station, and all bus stations are closed. It later emerged that all highway exits from the city were also blocked. These measures are communicated everywhere: messages sent to phones, repeated in news broadcasts, and circulated on WeChat. Shops, restaurants, and shopping centers are shut down. The streets are deserted, and people stay home, anxious to avoid falling ill.
Featured image on interestingengineering.com
