Prof. Shayan Sharif, Department of Pathobiology at U of G’s Ontario Veterinary College, appeared on CBC News Network and on CBC Radio to discuss a research paper he co-authored on the use of Twitter to detect the spread of infectious animal disease outbreaks.

A team of U of G computer scientists and veterinary researchers found that 75 per cent of real-world outbreaks of avian influenza – affecting poultry, not humans — were detected on Twitter, suggesting the social media platform can be used as an early warning system for outbreaks.

Sharif appeared on CBC News Network Monday evening, as well as on CBC Radio’s Ontario Morning Tuesday morning.

A professor of poultry immunology, he studies how microbes, such as those that cause Marek’s disease and bird flu, interact with the chicken immune system.