November 13, 2008

Google Tracks The Flu

Google released a flu tracking tool this week called Flu Trends. According to Google, certain search terms are good indicators of flu activity. By looking at aggregated search data related to the topic of “flu” Google claims they can estimate flu activity in a particular region two weeks faster than traditional tracking systems. This is because people tend to search for health information relatively early on in their illness, whereas traditional tracking systems rely on data collected after the patient has sought medical attention. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the Google data appears to accurately correlate with CDC data. Earlier warnings allows the medical community to prepare for an increase in sickness and gives people time to get vaccinated, if they haven’t already.

Read more and share your opinion.

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Posted by Dr. Steven / November 13, 2008 12:48 am / Permalink / Comments (5) / Trackbacks (0)

 

5 Responses to “Google Tracks The Flu”

  1. 2020 whalen Says:
    November 13th, 2008 at 9:37 am

    how great is that idea
    simple as pie and at no cost to gather
    right on.
    2020whalen

  2. Chad Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 10:56 am

    GREAT IDEA ,
    NOW GIVE US WAYS NOT TO CATCH IT FROM OTHERS AND GET RID OF IT FASTER. I TEND TO STAY OUT OF AREAS WITH HEAVY FLU OUT BREAKS, THEN THE DOCTOR TELLS ME TO COME TO THEIR OFFICE FOR HEART CHECK UP, SITTING THERE WITH ALL THE PEOPLE WITH THE FLU.
    SEEMS LIKE YOU CATCH IT AND MORE AT THE DOCTORS OFFICE FASTER.MAKES THEM MORE MONEY WHEN YOU HAVE TO COME BACK SOONER IF YOU DON’T DIE FROM IT.
    WE NEED MORE DOCTORS DOING HOUSE CALLS AGAIN TO STOP THE SPREAD OF EVERYTHING.

    THANKS GOOGLE FOR THE INFORMATION

  3. EMC2RD Says:
    November 16th, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    I’m at the age of forty and I have yet to catch the flu virus from anyone. I even worked in daycare once and still, I have never had the flu. I’ll get a 24hr. bug but that is it.
    What are the statistics of this?

  4. Steven Says:
    November 18th, 2008 at 11:33 am

    Chad - I like what you said about having more doctors make more house calls. That is a very good idea, and I think you’ll find more and more physicians doing just that!

  5. Steven Says:
    November 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am

    EMC2RD - that is great! I’m a few years younger than you, but I have to say I MAY only have had the flu once in my life. It’s not uncommon for someone to catch a cold, but the flu is something that is less common. The reason we emphasize the flu so much is that catching the flu can be potentially fatal.

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