Tech companies to combat pandemic disease

The new head of Google's philanthropic wing said he is organizing an initiative that will use information technology to provide early warning in the event of a possible outbreak of pandemic influenza or other communicable disease. Dr. Larry Brilliant, who was named head Google.org last week, announced the International Networked System for Total Early Disease Protection at a meeting of the Technology, Entertainment and Design Conference in Monterey California. The initiative has early financial support from Google, Sun MicroSystems and venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

- see this article from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)

PLUS: Of course, it may well be a little late for early detection in the case of the H5N1 virus. Over the weekend, the Chinese government reported "a massive outbreak" of the virus, leading to international concern. Article

ALSO: In France, where bird flu has been detected in a number of well-known agricultural regions, President Jacques Chirac is urging calm and reminding connoisseurs that "cooking causes the virus…to be rendered harmless." Article

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