EDGAReView

Google’s new Flu Trends tool can estimate flu activity in your state up to two weeks faster than traditional flu surveillance systems. Google researchers have found that certain search terms are good indicators of flu activity and the aggregated data is updated daily, state-by-state.

This is an exciting development for epidemiologists, says Google, “because early detection of a disease outbreak can reduce the number of people affected. . . .Our up-to-date influenza estimates may enable public health officials and health professionals to better respond to seasonal epidemics and – though we hope never to find out – pandemics.” Check out today’s flu activity in your state at Flu Trends.