Predicting Pandemics: Lessons from Cholera for Understanding Covid-19

Dr. Rita Colwell, Distinguished Professor, University of Maryland; Founder, CosmosID, Inc.

Video Summary:

The talk focuses on the relationship between Vibrio cholerae and environmental factors, particularly how these contribute to cholera outbreaks. Key speaker, Dr. Rita Colwell discusses her work on cholera, emphasizing the role of zooplankton in the bacterium's lifecycle. Cholera is a global disease, with outbreaks often triggered by environmental changes. Dr. Colwell's research includes using satellite data to predict cholera outbreaks based on factors like sea surface temperature, chlorophyll levels, and population movements.

She mentions a notable application of her work in Yemen during 2017-2018, where predictive modeling helped locate areas of high cholera risk, allowing for preemptive medical interventions. This approach, involving satellite sensors and metagenomic data, has significantly improved cholera outbreak predictions and has been applied to other countries like Ethiopia and Malawi. Dr. Colwell's work highlights the integration of environmental data, technology, and public health to mitigate the impact of pandemics like cholera.