Using Google Flu Trends to Monitor the Swine Flu (H1N1)

The current outbreak of the Swine Flu, or H1N1, has left many people around the world stressing over the coming fall season. Google Flu Trends, a new online tool operated by Google.org, displays influenza risks based on search engine trends relating to searches on information about the flu and its symptoms. The site boasts that there is a direct correlation between the presence of elevated flu outbreaks and increases in searches related to the H1N1.

What regions are represented on Google Flu Trends?

Google Flu Trends displays data from 20 countries including the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand. Click on a selected country on the main map to see H1N1 data on that region. Many of the region maps are divided into smaller regions for more specific data. For example, to see data for a specific US State, click on the United States from the world map and select a state.

What search terms contribute to a region's Google Flu Trends intensity rating?

Google Flu Trends uses a wide variety of search terms to determine the flu intensity rating. The site identifies many terms that relate to flu-related topics from 'H1N1" to ' cough' or 'fever'. Every time a internet user searches for a key term, the site records the data and adjusts the flu intensity level accordingly. Each region is color-coded from green for minimal risk to red for intense risk to show the volume of influenza-related searches.

What data is available on Google Flu Trends?

Each region has a line graph that shows the change in flu-related searches each month for the 2009 flu season. Each month is color-coded using the same intensity rating as the world regions. The graph also displays data from previous years. Click on the drop down box to compare a specific year to the 2009 season data.

How accurate is the data on Google Flu Trends?

The accuracy of the search engine data is objective. The data on search terms comes directly from Google search records. However, the correlation of search terms and actual influenza levels is speculative. While these risk levels are based on the theory of search results versus actual illness levels, I found that the data is comparable to actual flu levels being reported by the various health organizations around the globe. For example, the site (at the time of writing this) shows Australia at a minimal risk level. This seems reasonable since that nation is approaching their summer season when flu levels are typically low.

While the data on Google Flu Trends is not entirely accurate in terms of actual influenza levels, the site can offer a unique method of tracking outbreaks of the H1N1 virus based on a reasonable data tracking theory. Before making any decisions based on the data regarding the well-being of your family, you should first examine more reliable data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).