IBM (NYSE:IBM) is ramping up efforts to better understand the Zika virus, and hopefully keep it under control to avoid any more illnesses and deaths.
The company said it is offering the technology and resources to help track the spread of the Zika virus. A research institution connected with the Brazilian Ministry of Health will use IBM’s technology to monitor information about official data regarding human travel patterns, as well as anecdotes shared on social media.
IBM will donate a one-year subscription feed of local daily rainfall, average temperature and humidity data that will be accessed by the U.S. Fund for United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
Additionally, a partnership with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies — based out of New York –will collect and mine biological data and ecological data to help issue out algorithms that can help determine with animals are carriers for the virus, other than mosquitos.
‘OpenZika Project’ is another initiative by IBM–this one uses the World Community Grid, which is a crowd-sourced supercomputer. Scientists can use this data in the U.S. and Brazil to screen chemical compounds to help determine which ones can fight the virus.
Here are 10 things to know about the Zika Virus in the U.S., which was resulted in 1,600 cases around the country. New York state and Florida have the most cases of any two states in the country.
IBM stock fell 0.5% Friday.
