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Firm Warned of Flu Weeks Before WHO Alert

Watchdog discovered threat in daily Web scan; notified CDC

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted May 1, 2009 8:51 AM CDT

(Newser) – A company that specializes in biosurveillance issued a warning about swine flu more than two weeks before the World Health Organization announced the possible threat, McClatchy reports. The Washington state firm, Veratect, scans tens of thousands of Web sites every day in search of potential medical concerns. It reported a respiratory disease emerging in Mexico April 6 on its website, then e-mailed CDC workers 10 days later when the outbreak appeared to be spreading.

Finally, on April 20, a Veratect scientist called contacts at the CDC; they had been examining possible US swine flu cases and hadn’t known about the Mexican situation, said Veratect’s CEO. The WHO announced its concern four days later. The CEO—whose aim is to sell his services to such agencies—said he didn’t hold the delay against the CDC. “Hindsight is great and it's hard to say whether (the delay) altered anything.” But an international monitoring system should be implemented, he said.

Veratect's Marissa Iannarone, left, and Eve Aronson read reports of areas of swine flu hotspots and outbreaks at the company's office in Kirkland, Wash., Monday, April 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)

Veratech CEO Robert Hart, left, and chief scientist Jim Wilson pose in front of a screen showing the areas where the firm marked swine flu hotspots, April 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)

Veratect's Jarkyn Otorbaeva reads news updates on the Internet before reporting swine flu hotspots and outbreaks to the Verasight Global subscription Web site at the company office, April 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)

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Firm Warned of Flu Weeks Before WHO Alert

Watchdog discovered threat in daily Web scan; notified CDC

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Internet • Mexico • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • public health • World Health Organization • warning • swine flu

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Firm Warned of Flu Weeks Before WHO Alert

Watchdog discovered threat in daily Web scan; notified CDC

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Internet • Mexico • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • public health • World Health Organization • warning • swine flu

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

1 in 6 Americans Is a Binge Drinker

Nation's heaviest boozers are in Wisconsin, study finds

2 Bodies in Mexico Seen as Warning to Social Media

Placards near bodies warn not to post online about drug cartels

WHO Exaggerated Swine Flu Pandemic: EU Reports

Watchdogs accuse WHO of colluding with drugmakers

Snopes Founders: People Are Suckers

Please, stop falling for that Nigerian scam

Swine Flu Killed 17K Americans: CDC

Total lower than usual, but victims skew younger

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?