Fredkin Modeling SARS Epidemic, Offers Advice to CDC

By Marissa Vogt
Associate News Editor for The Tech

Visiting scientist and former MIT professor Edward Fredkin is attempting to curb the recent spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, by using spreadsheets to model the behavior of the epidemic.

Fredkin is using a collection of interconnected spreadsheets to simulate the behavior of those infected with the disease and how they might communicate the disease to others.

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This article originally appeared in The Tech, issue 17 volume 123. It may be freely distributed electronically as long as it includes this notice but cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of The Tech. Write to archive@the-tech.mit.edu for additional details.

New Travel Policy Requires Informed Decisions

MIT has announced a new “travel risk policy” requiring students, faculty and staff to increase their awareness of heightened risks posed by trips to areas where severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), war and terrorism are prevalent.

Insurance for business travel risk and emergency medical care are unavailable in 19 countries without pre-approval, which means a higher premium.

The policy states, “All members of the MIT community should be able to make well-informed travel decisions, and no one should be coerced or required to travel to locales where there are significantly heightened health or safety risks.” The MIT policy was posted Monday and is available at http://web.mit.edu/cao/www/travelriskpolicy.htm.

Read more about the policy and get the latest info from the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization at http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/tt/2003/apr30/travel.html

Visiting scientist and former MIT professor Edward Fredkin is working on a computer model to reduce the impact of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus. Photo: Wan Yusof Wan Morshidi.