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Google Expands Flu Tracking to Mexico

Overall flu incidence is lower than in many past years.

Google has launched an experimental Web site to help track Mexico's flu cases. It's experimental, because unlike the U.S. version, the Mexico data is not validated against actual CDC flu surveillance results, but is based on the idea that people who search for flu-related topics often have flu symptoms. An official Google blog posted Wednesday said that the research model filters out generic searches for swine flu. Perhaps surprisingly -- given the recent media attention to swine flu -- overall incidence of flu is lower than many past years even though there is an annual spike in flu at this time of year.

Wayne E. Hanson served as a writer and editor with e.Republic from 1989 to 2013, having worked for several business units including Government Technology magazine, the Center for Digital Government, Governing, and Digital Communities. Hanson was a juror from 1999 to 2004 with the Stockholm Challenge and Global Junior Challenge competitions in information technology and education.