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| Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2007): |
Modeling infectious diseases dissemination through online role-playing games.
Full Abstract
As mathematical modeling of infectious diseases becomes increasingly important for developing public health policies, a novel platform for such studies might be considered. Millions of people worldwide play interactive online role-playing games, forming complex and rich networks among their virtual characters. An unexpected outbreak of an infective communicable disease (unplanned by the game creators) recently occurred in this virtual world. This outbreak holds surprising similarities to real-world epidemics. It is possible that these virtual environments could serve as a platform for studying the dissemination of infectious diseases, and as a testing ground for novel interventions to control emerging communicable diseases.
Author information
Author/s: Balicer, Ran D (RD);
Affiliation: Epidemiology Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. rbalicer(-atsign-)netvision.net.il
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) (Epidemiology), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 18 (issue 2) : pp 260-1
Dates: Created 2007/02/15; Completed 2007/03/22;
PMID: 17301707, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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