Web News - Using Internet to battle Ebola outbreak in West Africa

FRANCE 24 English 2014-08-01

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In this edition: online initiatives to combat the spread of the Ebola virus; a new and alarming online trend in the US; and New Zealand retirement home residents dancing to « Happy ».


USING INTERNET TO BATTLE EBOLA OUTBREAK IN WEST AFRICA
The devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa has already claimed hundreds of victims, and the public authorities and NGOS are doing what they can to stop the spread of this deadly disease. Countless social networkers are also doing what they can to assist the emergency measures. 
The Twitter hashtags #ebolatips et #ebolafacts are being used to share precautionary advice on how to limit the risk of infection. Basic, simple rules, like washing hands regularly or not eating meat from wild animals. These instructions are also available on these visuals created by UNICEF and available on the organization`s website to download, print out and distribute as widely as possible. And with this smartphone app, the information is also available in several West African languages including Jola and Wolof. 
And with many sharing this advice online, others are mapping the spread of the virus. Web users can contribute to the "Humanitarian Open Street Map" for example with satellite photos to help understand where affected populations are centered to deliver maps to field workers and deploy aid more effectively. This document, put together by Google Maps, has more of an educational purpose and tracks the history of the Ebola Virus and the spread of outbreaks from 1976 onwards. The tool illustrates the alarming increased frequency over the past forty years. 
"FIRE CHALLENGE" TREND GROWING ONLINE
Following on from the "Neknominations" phenomenon which in... Go on reading on our web site.
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