- Joined
- Feb 16, 2006
- Messages
- 2,875
- Reaction score
- 186
What serial killers and epidemics have in common
Though it's often said that serial killers and diseases strike at random, a new study shows that they both kill victims in a predictable pattern. That's why the tools criminologists use to track serial killers can also pinpoint the location where an epidemic started.
[...]
If geographic profiling continues to work well at identifying other sources of disease outbreaks, it could prove invaluable in stopping pandemics before they start. One could imagine a future where health care workers use GP software to input and track the geographic locations of patients who've contracted deadly, communicable diseases. If an epidemic pattern begins to emerge, doctors could go straight to the source and administer antivirals or vaccines before the killer gets out of control. This will stop disease far more efficiently than trying to immunize everyone in a large geographical area.Full articleL click here
Provisional Research Paper (PDF): click here
Though it's often said that serial killers and diseases strike at random, a new study shows that they both kill victims in a predictable pattern. That's why the tools criminologists use to track serial killers can also pinpoint the location where an epidemic started.
[...]
If geographic profiling continues to work well at identifying other sources of disease outbreaks, it could prove invaluable in stopping pandemics before they start. One could imagine a future where health care workers use GP software to input and track the geographic locations of patients who've contracted deadly, communicable diseases. If an epidemic pattern begins to emerge, doctors could go straight to the source and administer antivirals or vaccines before the killer gets out of control. This will stop disease far more efficiently than trying to immunize everyone in a large geographical area.
Provisional Research Paper (PDF): click here