Smartwatches May Stop Pandemics Before They Start | Image Source: www.alaskasnewssource.com
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, March 9, 2025 – Imagine if your smart watch told you you were getting sick before you felt it. A new study suggests that this may not be far from reality. Researchers from the University of Aalto, Stanford University and Texas A compridoamp; M found that day-to-day devices can detect viral infections, including VOCID-19 and influenza, with remarkable accuracy – days before symptoms develop. Published in PNAS Nexus on March 4, its results suggest that smart watches could play a key role in combating epidemics.
How smart watches can detect the disease before symptoms appear
Early detection is essential to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Many diseases, including VOCID-19, are more contagious before symptoms occur. According to the research, 44% of VOCID-19 infections were transmitted before individuals realized they were ill. This is where usable technology could make a difference.
Smart watches continuously monitor vital signs such as heart rate, skin temperature and breathing. According to the study, these devices can predict an imminent disease with an accuracy of 88% for VOCID-19 and 90% for influenza. This means that a simple smartphone alert could give people a quick warning to take precautions, potentially delay or even stop the spread of the disease.
Can smart watches help prevent future pandemics?
Principal researcher Märt Vesinurm of the University of Aalto believes that this technology could be a game change in the management of future pandemics. ”Unlike the pandemic, we now have concrete data on how pandemics develop and on the various effective measures to reduce the spread. Add to this that usable technology is now extremely effective in detecting the first physiological signs of infection, and we are much better prepared,” said Vesinurm.
By reducing social contact as soon as an infection is detected, even at the lower end of compliance, transmission rates could be significantly reduced. According to the study, people often reduce social interactions from 66 to 90% when they realize they are sick. If people receive an early warning and act on it, this could reduce the transmission of disease by 40-65% compared to waiting for symptoms to appear.
How an early warning system could change public health
Smart watches offer more than individual benefits: they can transform public health policies. Researchers suggest that governments could use usable technology to implement more specific health interventions. Instead of extensive closures or mass testing, the authorities could encourage self-isolation on the basis of real-time health data.
“People are used to using devices, and they are likely to trust them,” says Vesinurm. “While not yet diagnosed, they could help to make unpopular approaches such as masks, blockages, and invasive tests more sharp and less than a blunt instrument. »
For example, if a smart watch detects early signs of illness, the user may choose to take a PCR test, use a mask in crowded areas, or avoid visiting older parents. Such measures could make public health interventions more specific and less worrying.
Can smart watches distinguish between different diseases?
An important question is whether smart watches can differentiate between diseases. Could you tell the difference between VOCID-19, flu, or even something more serious like avian flu (H5N1)? According to Vesinurm, it’s possible. “As we collect more accurate data on how different diseases affect these measures, there is no reason why we cannot distinguish between diseases, from avian influenza to HIV to common cold, especially when used with advanced machine learning methods and other user data,” he said.
This suggests that as usable technology evolves, smart watches could be more sophisticated in identifying specific diseases, leading to early warning and even more accurate treatment strategies.
Could governments use smart watches to fight pandemics?
The idea of using smart watches for large-scale disease surveillance creates ethical opportunities and concerns. Some researchers argue that governments could distribute smart watches to individuals through national health initiatives. This could be a cost-effective way to monitor the spread of diseases and prevent epidemics.
“Governments may find it more cost-effective, in a pandemic situation, to provide every person who wants a smart watch, although of course it includes their own ethical considerations,” said Mr. Vesinurm.
Data confidentiality and security issues must be addressed before such a system can be widely implemented. However, if done responsibly, it could provide a revolutionary way to track and control infectious diseases in real time.
The potential of smart watches in disease prevention is becoming clearer. By detecting infections before symptoms develop, usable technology could give people and public health officials a powerful new tool. If action is taken, these early warnings could significantly reduce the spread of the disease and even prevent future pandemics. With further progress, smart watches can soon become an essential part of the public health strategy, providing early warning that helps maintain community safety.
