{"id":123875,"date":"2025-07-22T01:58:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T06:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=123875"},"modified":"2025-07-21T12:02:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T17:02:44","slug":"zoodemic-app-brings-public-health-education-to-young-learners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/07\/22\/zoodemic-app-brings-public-health-education-to-young-learners\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Zoodemic\u2019 app brings public health education to young learners"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The UNMC College of Public Health is making public health education mobile with the launch of \u201cZoodemic,\u201d a free mobile app that teaches middle and high school students about infectious diseases, hygiene and prevention in a fun, interactive way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alexandra Todd, health policy analyst with the UNMC College of Public Health, said users navigate waves of viruses and unlock increasingly complex levels about germ basics, zoonotic diseases and emerging threats like avian flu and measles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe goal of ‘Zoodemic’ is to educate our youth about infectious diseases, including how to stay safe around live animals and protect health, all in a fun and engaging way,\u201d said Ali S. Khan, MD, MPH, dean of the UNMC College of Public Health. \u201cIt is also my hope that the app will go on to promote excitement in science and perhaps even inspire a career in animal, human or environmental health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Todd, who supports Dr. Khan and the college’s public health education initiatives, has worked closely on the development of “Zoodemic.” \u201cWe really try to meet kids where they are,\u201d she said. \u201cMobile games are a part of their daily lives, so we wanted to embed accurate, accessible health education in that format.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Todd said the app was developed in collaboration with University of Nebraska at Omaha\u2019s College of Information Science & Technology students through their capstone projects before partnering with Omaha-based tech company NebDev to improve user experience and expand content. \u201cThanks to backend updates, we can now rapidly release new levels in response to current outbreaks and public health needs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re aiming to keep it topical and evolving,\u201d Todd said. \u201cWe want youth to understand not just how diseases spread, but also how to prevent them and hopefully spark some curiosity about science along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robin Williams with the Nebraska Division of Public Health said the division is excited to partner with UNMC to create the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“<\/em>The ‘Zoodemic’ app is an educational and unique way for our community to learn about zoonotic vaccinations and diseases,\u201d William said. \u201cWe are grateful to the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists for providing funding, which supports our shared commitment to public health education and improving the health and well-being of all Nebraskans.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more or try the app, “Zoodemic” is available on the Apple App Store<\/a> and Google<\/a> <\/a>Play.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The app was developed by the UNMC College of Public Health and students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":123876,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"65140,32148,19372,111487,48256,64193","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-123875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","topic-outreach","department-college-of-public-health","department-unmc-today-todays-headlines","author_override-sarah-hankin-unmc-strategic-communications"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Zoodemic\u2019 app brings public health 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