Google Flu Trends have launched an Experimental Flu Trends for Mexico as a result of the ongoing concern over the current swine flue outbreak. The experimental model for Mexico shows estimates on possible flu activity in the various states in Mexico. Google Flu Trends uses aggregated Google search data to estimate possible flu activity in near real-time.
Additional details on how the Experimental Flu Trends for Mexico works and FAQs. More information about Google Flu Trends in my prior post.
Thanks to @rzeiger for the Twitter tip on the launch of the experimental tracker.
Showing posts with label flu trends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flu trends. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Predicting Flu Season With Google Flu Trends
Google Flu Trends uses search terms as an indicator of flu activity by state.
According to Google.org Flu Trends the aggregated search data can estimate flu activity in a state up to two weeks faster than traditional systems. The chart comparison with CDC data is impressive at showing the consistency between tracking search terms vs. using influenza surveillance data. Read about how it works and the FAQs. More background from the NYT in Google Uses Web Searches to Track Flu's Spread.
What about privacy concerns? Has Google stepped beyond the boundary of the "trust question" by providing aggregated search information to the CDC? It might depend upon the level of data that is being release to the CDC. Already anyone using Google Trends can get a certain level of aggregated information on a particular topic - for example "Flu".
Privacy is one thing but expectation is another. My experience in dealing with clients on privacy breach matters has lead me to believe that it is often not about whether something should or should not be private -- but rather it is a question of expectation by the person who trusted information with another party. Did that party do something with the information that was unexpected or not agreed to by the parties.
The discussion on privacy has started . . .
UPDATE: Interesting follow up thoughts by Mark Hawker and the potential use of Facebook Lexicon as a similar approach to tracking flu and other health conditions.Wasn't aware of Facebook Lexicon feature - interesting tool.
According to Google.org Flu Trends the aggregated search data can estimate flu activity in a state up to two weeks faster than traditional systems. The chart comparison with CDC data is impressive at showing the consistency between tracking search terms vs. using influenza surveillance data. Read about how it works and the FAQs. More background from the NYT in Google Uses Web Searches to Track Flu's Spread.
What about privacy concerns? Has Google stepped beyond the boundary of the "trust question" by providing aggregated search information to the CDC? It might depend upon the level of data that is being release to the CDC. Already anyone using Google Trends can get a certain level of aggregated information on a particular topic - for example "Flu".
Privacy is one thing but expectation is another. My experience in dealing with clients on privacy breach matters has lead me to believe that it is often not about whether something should or should not be private -- but rather it is a question of expectation by the person who trusted information with another party. Did that party do something with the information that was unexpected or not agreed to by the parties.
The discussion on privacy has started . . .
- Google To Track Flu Searches and Report Them to Feds? at Volokh Conspiracy
- Sick Surveillance: Google Reports Flu Searches, Locations to Feds at Drudge
- Google Flu Trends: A Glimpse into the future of Google Health at ReadWriteWeb
- Sick? Google Shares Health Searches with Government at CNET Technically Incorrect
- Google Introduces Flu Trends; Gets Red-Font Treatment on Drudge at U.S. Web
UPDATE: Interesting follow up thoughts by Mark Hawker and the potential use of Facebook Lexicon as a similar approach to tracking flu and other health conditions.Wasn't aware of Facebook Lexicon feature - interesting tool.
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