BOSTON, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Children's Hospital Boston and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab say they are tracking H1N1 flu outbreaks via iPhone.
The application, "Outbreaks Near Me," builds upon the mission and capability of HealthMap, an online resource that collects, filters, maps and disseminates information about emerging infectious diseases.
HealthMap co-founder John Brownstein of the Children's Hospital Informatics Program said improvements in Outbreaks Near Me allows for alerts that notify a user on their device or via e-mail when new outbreaks are reported in their proximity, or if a user enters a new area of activity.
"We hope individuals will find the new app to be a useful source of outbreak information -- locally, nationally and globally," Brownstein said in a statement.
"As people are equipped with more knowledge and awareness of infectious disease, the hope is that they will become more involved and proactive about public health."
