Software that helps track illness outbreaks

Everyone's likely aware of the recent bacteria issues that have plagued some food options--the spinach scare, the illness tied to lettuce that caused at some Taco Bell restaurants. But what most people don't know is that a software application used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) helped track down the bacterial culprit and played a part in making sure the bacterial breakout was contained. It seems that a software analysis tool can query a central database of stored DNA fingerprints from a suspected disease-carrying bacteria. Scientists were then able to link the illnesses happening nationwide to the actual food product.

For more the role of technology when tracking illnesses:
- read the article at Computerworld