ATLANTA, Nov 19, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A computer model based on online
searches about the flu can offer real-time weekly levels of flu activity, the
Center for Disease Control in Atlanta reports.
The application, "Google Flu Trends," launched last week and the research behind
the tool was published online Wednesday in the journal Nature.
Jeremy Ginsberg said he and fellow researchers used data from vast numbers of
Google search queries to track flu-like illnesses in the United States. They
found the frequency of certain searches correlates with trips to the doctor
where a patient presents flu-like symptoms.
This correlation between Google searches and doctor's visits makes it possible
to estimate accurately weekly levels of flu activity with only a one-day lag
time, researchers said.
The authors said they believe the data would be useful as a way to spur more
investigation and collection activity data.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International