Influenza Trends according to Google

[bec_87rb]

If you believe Google, the CDC reports flu trends 1 - 2 weeks behind the actual events. If you chart Google searches for flu and flu-related topics, they act as a predictor of what the CDC will report in 1 -2 weeks, i.e., Google has more real-time data on influenza pandemics

Comments

[suegypt]

Well, that's interesting. And scary. If i'm not mistaken, the CDC info is what informs the making of the vaccines?

BTW, who out there gets a flu shot every year?

I do.

[bec_87rb]

I get one for free here at work. With a week of getting the shot, I had a flu-like viral illness that made me sick on an off for weeks. I think it's a placebo shot. :)

Re: I do.

[suegypt]

Was this last year, or just recently?

Last year, everyone i knew who got the shot seemed to get the flu anyway. They theorized it was because the used the wrong prevalent strains. I think i might do better to keep up with my 10-year vaccine for pneumonia...?

Re: I do.

[ieatbigboogers]

The W.H.O. isn't reusing any of last years strains; hopefully this year's is more effective. I was raised by a nurse, I feel guilty if I neglect to get the shot.

[chhinnamasta]

Hey, that's fascinating. Thanks for pointing it out! Of course, Google could tell us that this was a hot topic yesterday. This intelligence-of-crowds stuff is so cool. I can see the same approach being used to detect emerging ecological and political/social threats, as well. I see that Google's philanthropic arm has invested in InSTEDD, a company that leverages technology to track disease and to facillitate disaster response. Social entrepreneurship, is an interesting and refreshing approach.

a bajillion data points

[bec_87rb]

I like the methodology because you gather what is usually reported actively, as a result of office visits and doctors reporting manually, but with Google you get passive reporting as a byproduct of other activities, so there is less censoring, less non-compliance. Your data isn't as precise, but it's in such masses, what you lose there, you gain in power - I mean, this samples people who never went to the doctor, so long as they have computer access.

It was very clever of someone to notice!

The list of top search terms under the link tells me that everyone watched the Country Music Awards last night.

Goan git me some Kenny Chesney

[suegypt]

The list of top search terms under the link tells me that everyone watched the Country Music Awards last night.

Ew. Not everyone!