Since December 31, 2019, when the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the Wuhan province in China, the pandemic has spread globally at a rapid rate. The novelty of this disease has caused people to constantly search for information about where it is, how it spreads, and how to prevent it. While there are several reputable news sources out there, there seems to be a disconnect between the true number of cases and varying speculations read on Twitter accounts or blogs. Open-source solutions have helped the world stay more informed and safer during this global crisis.
The Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering has recently developed an open-source interactive dashboard whose goal is “to provide researchers, public health authorities, and the general public with a user-friendly tool to track the outbreak as it unfolds.” [2] The platform pulls data from various sources, primarily DXY (an online platform run by members of the Chinese medical community), and cross-references these sources in order to ensure accuracy. [1] The system breaks down the effects on a country-level, province level in China and the city level for US, Canada, and Australia. Because the technology is open source it is able to interact and gather data from countries and software systems around the world that speak different computer languages. By collecting data from a wide array of sources and updating it every 15 minutes, the dashboard serves as one of the world’s most reliable and up to date sources of information regarding the quantity and location of cases. Scientists, hospitals and governments can use this trusted data to make informed decisions about how to best react and prepare for the virus. [1]
In addition to numerical data, genomic information about the virus has also been shared via open-source platforms allowing scientists and doctors around the world to work together. In one particular case found in Seattle, medical professionals recognized a mutation in the strain. This mutation, while only representing a miniscule detail that may not truly affect the manifestation of the disease, allows doctors to track the strain more precisely and figure out where it has spread, how it has adapted and how to limit its effect. [3] The strain was shared on Gisaid, an open-source genome sharing platform. This sort of genetic analysis isn’t new, in and of itself. Researchers traditionally publish their work primarily through academic journals. But the explosion of genomic data available on Gisaid, and the speed with which it’s uploaded, creates new opportunities to bridge the gap between public health and academia allowing us to act quickly and thus save lives. [3]
COVID-19 has affected and will continue to affect every single nation on planet Earth. Our interdependent global economy suffers every day that we fail to keep the virus under control. By using open source platforms we can help cull the virus through accurate reporting and scientific collaboration.
Bibliography:
- Woodward, M., Douglas, B., Brescia, E., & Anderson, E. (2020, March 27). Open collaboration on COVID-19. Retrieved from https://github.blog/2020-03-23-open-collaboration-on-covid-19/
2. Dong, E. (2020, February 19). An interactive web-based dashboard to track COVID-19 in real time. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30120-1/fulltext
3. Finley, K. (2020, March 26). Data Sharing and Open Source Software Help Combat Covid-19. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/story/data-sharing-open-source-software-combat-covid-19/
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