Boffins flock to Google to combat bird flu

US BOFFINS seeking to combat Bird Flu have been using Google Earth as a cheep way of getting satellite information.

The big idea is to create buffer zones around an infected flock and contain the H5N1 strain when its chickens come home to roost in the US.

Google earth provides the location of buildings, schools and roads near large chicken and turkey farms and production facilities.

One of the researchers said that the satellite service saved him heaps of time. Twenty years ago he would have had to drive around the countryside and find the chicken farm that reported a disease. Now everything is on a mapping system at the office.

He knows exactly how many farms are in an affected area and which farms to send teams to for extra sampling. All for a poultry cost. µ

L'INQ
Reuters