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Smartwatches Detect Infections Within 12 Hours, Could Halve Pandemic Transmission

Wearable sensors now detect physiological changes presymptomatically, offering early isolation alerts that researchers are working to integrate into public health strategies.

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Overview

  • Recent studies from Texas A&M and Stanford confirm that smartwatches can identify subtle shifts in heart rate, temperature and sleep patterns within 12 hours of exposure.
  • Computational models indicate that early warnings from wearable devices could reduce pandemic transmission risk by nearly 50 percent.
  • Timely alerts prompt users to isolate and seek diagnostic tests before symptoms emerge, targeting presymptomatic spread.
  • Researchers highlight potential applications beyond COVID-19 and influenza, including early detection of RSV and other viral infections.
  • Multidisciplinary teams are refining algorithms and sensor technology to embed smartwatch-based monitoring into broader disease prevention systems.