Google tap into searches may help find health trends

When the next flu outbreak begins, the first alert may come from a flurry of Google searches.

Google Flu Trends, created by the company's philanthropic arm, Google.org, provides daily estimates of the number of flu cases in the United States, based on trends in flu-related Internet searches such as queries about symptoms. The estimates made by Google's new software match the weekly flu statistics compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from doctors' reports, says Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London.

Google Flu Trends can detect an outbreak days before it shows up in the weekly CDC reports, says Ferguson. The extra warning time won't stop outbreaks altogether but could play an important role in helping hospitals prepare for a surge in patient numbers, he suggests.

"Even outside of pandemics, just with seasonal flu the severe years can really stress health care systems," he says.

If Google's approach is successful in tracking flu, it could be applied to other diseases. It might help to prevent new infectious diseases from taking root, says Larry Brilliant, head of Google.org.