Google Flu Trends


It seems logical that in areas where people are suffering from the flu that more search terms about the flu would roll into Google Search. So Google Trends has taken data from search inquiries related to the flu and made a map.
Of course, not every person who searches for "flu" is actually sick, but a pattern emerges when all the flu-related search queries from each state and region are added together. We compared our query counts with data from a surveillance system managed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and discovered that some search queries tend to be popular exactly when flu season is happening. By counting how often we see these search queries, we can estimate how much flu is circulating in various regions of the United States.

At the site you can mouseover a state and see how active flu searches are. Kentucky is labeled as moderate, so I'd better get my flu shot! Link -Thanks, Jefffss!

I wonder how this is adjusted. I mean, you couldn't just use the raw numbers, they'd be meaningless - even us British understand that some states are more populous than others.

D'yer reckon they've adjusted it for population density, or by proportion who have internet access, or proportion literate enough to use a connection or what?
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Click here to access all of this post's 8 comments




Email This Post to a Friend
"Google Flu Trends"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More