MP: Smartphone apps give lowdown on H1N1 virus

Nearly a dozen apps on swine flu launched for smartphones provide tips on staying safe from the H1N1 virus and inform users in Madhya Pradesh about areas where outbreaks of the flu have occurred.

Updated on: Feb 24, 2015, 17:11:19 IST

Hindustan Times | By Neeraj Santoshi, Bhopal

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Nearly a dozen apps on swine flu launched for smartphones provide tips on staying safe from the H1N1 virus and inform users in Madhya Pradesh about areas where outbreaks of the flu have occurred.

Though most of them are simple apps, some can be of help with their special features. Though a majority of people the Hindustan Times spoke to were not aware of the apps, quite a few youngsters knew about them.

"I found some GPS-based swine flu apps interesting as they have features through which you can see whether a particular area where you are living in or travelling through has swine flu or not," said Shivam Sharma, an engineering student from Saket Nagar.

Another engineering student, Kirti Kumar, said some of the apps were helpful as they gave the latest information but most need upgrading.

"I think such apps need to be me made interactive and more helpful and they should be synced with government initiatives," he said.

Apart from free apps on swine flu, there are some paid ones. One app, Swine Flu Comics, takes a humorous approach to the viral disease and costs around Rs 54.

It claims to have "16 swine flu comic strips that will keep you chuckling". The makers of the app claim that the main character in their comics, The Cashier, takes a wry look at the pandemic.

Here is some information about the swine flu apps available for smartphones:

Swine Flu: Outbreaks Near Me: This app, downloaded by more than 10,000 people, provides information on swine flu outbreaks with geographic markers on maps. It is GPS-based and needs the mobile user to turn on GPS-based location services. When the user clicks on markers on the map where viral outbreaks have been reported, the user will see a list of news items related to that region. There is also an option to report a swine flu outbreak.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeraj Santoshi
Neeraj Santoshi is the Chief of Bureau for Hindustan Times in Uttarakhand, where he leads the state reporting team while covering government, politics, environment, wildlife, Uttarakhand High Court, and issues shaping the Himalayan region. With more than two decades in journalism across conflict zones, he has covered politically sensitive regions and environmentally fragile landscapes, and focused on stories that combine public interest with in-depth storytelling. An alumnus of Pune University with a Master’s in Communication Studies, he has reported extensively from Jammu & Kashmir (2003-2010), Madhya Pradesh (2010 to 2018 ) and Uttarakhand (Since 2018), covering subjects ranging from insurgency, elections and governance to wildlife conservation, mining, climate change, agriculture, human rights and social justice. He has covered politics and legislative assemblies of both Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh over more than a decade. Before taking over as Chief of Bureau in Uttarakhand, he served as Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times in Madhya Pradesh and earlier reported for both Hindustan Times and The Indian Express in Jammu & Kashmir, where he covered state politics, environment and insurgency-related developments. Over the years, his stories have focused on environmental degradation, wildlife, illegal mining, governance and the changing social fabric of Himalayan states and Central India. He is particularly interested in long-form explanatory journalism, and stories that explore the intersection of ecology, conservation, governance and society. Outside the newsroom, Neeraj enjoys reading widely on neuroscience, consciousness studies, Artificial Intelligence and quantum physics, with a special interest in Kashmiri Tantric Shaivist traditions. He is also passionate about wildlife, mountaineering and the Himalayas, interests that continue to inform his reporting and deepen his understanding of the region he covers.Read More

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