Mapping malaria across the globe
Now you know here at iPM we love maps. Crime maps, credit crunch maps, street view maps - but it's hard to think of a more useful purpose for an online map - than helping to prevent people dying from malaria.
Step forward the .
It's a global map of the disease which shows where infection rates are increasing and what are the best methods of reducing infection in different areas.
Scientists at Oxford University and the Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group in Kenya have gathered data from field scientists across the world, and members of the public can now access it.
The Malaria Atlas Project is led by Professor Bob Snow. He spoke to iPM about why the map's important and how it will be used:
But the story doesn't end there. We found out about the map because of a workshop at the in London.
ran a session looking for technical input. He wants to use social networking tools to develop an online community of the scientists.
Sean's a close family friend of Prof Snow, and, working in the communications industry - he's wondering if the Atlas Project could work even better, if the scientists were able to upload their own data and have it published in real time.
You can contact Sean via the if you want to know more.
UPDATE: Have been sent a link to - a fascinating map which aggregates data from different sources to offer a current view on the global state of infectious diseases. Thanks Kyren.
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