Google searches were first indication of outbreak, by Omar El Akkad, Globe and Mail (Apr 30)
Search data at Google showed an increase in searches in mexico about flu a week before rest of world knew about swine flu.
"For months, Google has been tracking and releasing data on the number of U.S.-based flu-related queries made to the search engine. The theory is that when people get sick, they go online to search for information. Since tracking those queries provides a near-real-time picture of how many people are sick, the data can spot outbreaks more quickly than conventional methods.
This week, Google released data on the number of flu-related Web queries made by users in Mexico. The data shows a sharp spike in the number of queries, especially in Mexico City, beginning early in the week of April 19. By the end of that week, Mexican health officials had sounded the alarm and swine flu had become a global concern."
Posted by Gwen at May 1, 2009 04:46 PM