So Google's foundation is using the power of its search engine to help in tracking flu data. Google is tracking and analyzing patterns of searches for flu symptoms to track where flu outbreaks may be occurring. It is thought that by tracking the number and location of people searching for terms such as flu symptoms, muscle aches, and chest congestion, they may be able to spot trends of flu outbreaks before health departments see such trends. Of course the data is still being analyzed and will be analyzed through the upcoming flu season, but if this does prove to be a useful tool in spotting flu outbreaks sooner, it would be a free source of important, emerging health information.
Check out the web site here: http://www.google.org/flutrends/
And the NY Times article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/technology/internet/12flu.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
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