Mastercard's unused patent could have tracked disease outbreaks faster

Mastercard developed a patent in 2014 for a system that could track disease outbreaks by analyzing payment card data in real-time, but it was never deployed. This technology could have potentially identified the source of the current summer's severe Cyclospora outbreak more quickly. The current investigation relied on traditional epidemiological methods, such as interviewing affected individuals, which led to a two-month delay in identifying Taco Bell and a specific lettuce supplier in Mexico as the likely source. AI

IMPACT This technology could significantly speed up public health responses to foodborne illnesses by leveraging transaction data.

RANK_REASON The article discusses a patented technology that was never deployed, rather than a current product launch or release.

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• Arun Elangovan
• Cyclospora cayetanensis
• Jeremy Pastore
• Mastercard
• Mexico
• Michael Zhao
• Taco Bell
• Taylor Farms de Mexico
• United States
• United States Food and Drug Administration

• product
• policy

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