Can Twitter Help Better Identify Foodborne Illness Cases?
An estimated 55 million to 105 million people in the United States suffer from foodborne illnesses each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), resulting in costs of $2 to $4 billion annually.
What if Twitter could be used to track those cases and more quickly identify the source of the problem?
A new analysis by a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis’ Brown School and colleagues shows that new technology might better allow health departments to engage with the public to improve foodborne illness surveillance.
The results are published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the CDC.
