Recognizing Patterns from Nasty Bugs

What can we learn from epidemiology?

Stopping the spread of serious health risks like SARS and H1V1 now relies on analysis and technology as much as it does treatment and containment.  A recent article discusses various ways the health community is banding together to share information in order to create better early warning systems.

While marketing challenges pale in comparison to the arresting the spread of disease, there are a few points we should take away:

1. Integrate the data.  Silos helps no one in the long run.
2. Make it as real time as possible.  Winning the race to rapport requires a sense and respond mentality that doesn't fit the budget cycle.
3. Let the data decide.   Opportunities are often too complex for mere mortals to recognize in time.  

Social media has been suggested as an effective epidemiology tool, now may be the time to reverse the process and adopt those techniques for marketing.