How artificial intelligence can help predict future disease outbreaks – Medical Expert
From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Recent medical research has shown that artificial intelligence can help predict future diseases.
This claim was made at the third Public Health Grand Round organized by the School of Public Health, Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, Ondo where medical experts were gathered for deliberations on the future of public health.
At the programme, themed “Preventing the Next Pandemic: Use of Artificial Intelligence for Epidemic Monitoring and Alerts,” the guest lecturer, Prof Oluwadiya Kehinde who is a surgeon and Information Technology guru, said, “AI used Machine learning methods can be leveraged upon to prevent the spread of deadly infectious disease outbreak.”
He stated that “AI helps to process medical data which health care workers can interpret to improve health outcomes.”
He said, “It can be applied to public health in the area of predicting communicable disease outbreaks and the direction that surveillance will take towards disease prevention and control.”
While speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, UNIMED, Prof Adesegun Fatusi described “Artificial Intelligence as a computer-driven modern and innovative method that every healthcare worker should embrace and learn its operations. AI can pre-scan medical images and flag those of them that are unusual and direct the line of management”.
The Dean of the School of Public Health, Prof Olalekan Adebimpe observed that “pathogens or microbes are struggling with humans for survival. Part of their strategy is to catch humans unaware, like it did during COVID-19. Artificial intelligence can help to predict future disease outbreaks and position us for efficient epidemic preparedness.”
The programme was attended by healthcare professionals, medical practitioners, staff and students of the university.
