Flies could help to monitor disease outbreaks by acting as 'autonomous bionic drones' .

Flies could help to monitor disease outbreaks by acting as 'autonomous bionic drones'. Swarms of flies can be used to help monitor disease outbreaks, suggest scientists. This follows their research that shows how whole communities of bacteria – known as a microbiome – can “hitch a ride” on common carrion flies and can be transferred to any surface where the flies land. An international research team led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have proposed that swarms of flies can be used to help monitor disease outbreaks.