View the text version of Merit Network web site.
Merit Network
Search Merit Site | Text Version | Site Map | Log In




About Merit   Services   Network   Support & Resources   Network Research   News   Events   Home
Merit Blogs

Merit Network Blog

Tracking Flu Outbreaks OnlineCold and flu season has started, and finding information about influenza vaccines and outbreaks is now easier than ever.

Google announced this week that it has launched Google Flu Trends, a new tool that counts the number of influenza-related queries that the search engine receives and provides estimates of flu outbreaks around the United States.

"We found that there's a very close relationship between the frequency of these search queries and the number of people who are experiencing flu-like symptoms each week," Google said in a posting on its official blog.

The company said that its search data estimates showed a strong correlation with the flu surveillance data that the United States' Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports each week. Since the data is based on search queries and not physician reports, Google warns that the flu-tracking-data is still experimental, but it may be useful in preventing the spread of the flu or other diseases.

For details on influenza vaccinations, flu preventative tips, symptoms, and flu-tracking data from physicians around the country, the CDC web site is the best resource on the Web.

If you're debating whether or not to get a flu shot, the CDC's web site has details on the types of vaccinations available, how well the vaccine works, and more. The CDC recommends that all children from 6 months to 19 years old get a flu vaccine every year.

In addition to flu vaccinations, the CDC recommends the following healthy habits to prevent the flu:
1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

2. Stay home from work or school when you are sick.

3. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

4. Wash your hands often.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something contaminated and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

6. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, eat nutritious foods, and drink plenty of fluids.
Influenza is responsible for approximately 500,000 deaths around the world each year, and the CDC surveys public health laboratories, 2,400 healthcare providers in 50 states, and other sources to track influenza activity around the U.S. on a weekly basis. The CDC provides a current U.S. Flu Activity Map, U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, and International Influenza Sureveillance Report through its FluView web site.


Post a Comment




 
Blog Archive
 
Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 11.16.09
By Gregory Monroe - November 16, 2009 9:50 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 11.12.09
By Gregory Monroe - November 12, 2009 12:35 pm

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 11.3.09
By Gregory Monroe - November 03, 2009 12:21 pm

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 10.30
By Brian Warkoczeski - October 29, 2009 4:28 pm

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 10.26.09
By Gregory Monroe - October 26, 2009 10:42 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 10.19.09
By Gregory Monroe - October 19, 2009 10:58 am

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 10.08
By Brian Warkoczeski - October 08, 2009 1:03 pm

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 10.6.09
By Gregory Monroe - October 06, 2009 1:19 pm

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 9.29.09
By Gregory Monroe - September 29, 2009 12:33 pm

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 9.21.09
By Gregory Monroe - September 21, 2009 12:35 pm

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 9.16.09
By Gregory Monroe - September 16, 2009 12:41 pm

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 9.8.09
By Gregory Monroe - September 08, 2009 11:25 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 8.24.09
By Gregory Monroe - August 24, 2009 10:36 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 8.17.09
By Gregory Monroe - August 17, 2009 12:09 pm

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 8.14
By Brian Warkoczeski - August 14, 2009 9:14 am

Professional Learning
MJTS Call for Presentations
By Brian Warkoczeski - August 06, 2009 12:53 pm

Merit Stimulus Blog
Members in the News 7.24
By Brian Warkoczeski - July 24, 2009 12:47 pm

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 7.21.09
By Gregory Monroe - July 21, 2009 11:29 am

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 7.16
By Brian Warkoczeski - July 16, 2009 11:05 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 7.13.09
By Gregory Monroe - July 13, 2009 11:06 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 7.7.09
By Gregory Monroe - July 07, 2009 11:19 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 7.2.09
By Gregory Monroe - July 02, 2009 11:55 am

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 6.30
By Brian Warkoczeski - June 30, 2009 4:20 pm

Merit Network Blog
NANOG46 Videos Available
By Brian Warkoczeski - June 25, 2009 9:31 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 6.23.09
By Gregory Monroe - June 23, 2009 11:54 am

Professional Learning
Archived Merit Member Conference videos now available
By Brian Warkoczeski - June 17, 2009 9:43 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 6.15.09
By Gregory Monroe - June 15, 2009 11:41 am

Professional Learning
Merit Member Conference Concludes
By Brian Warkoczeski - June 12, 2009 3:57 pm

Professional Learning
Day Two of Merit Member Conference Begins
By Brian Warkoczeski - June 12, 2009 10:32 am

Professional Learning
Dale Dougherty Brings Ingenuity to Merit Member Conference
By Brian Warkoczeski - June 11, 2009 2:47 pm

Professional Learning
Merit Member Conference Extra! CEO and President Don Welch Announces Landmark Agreement with Internet2
By Gregory Monroe - June 11, 2009 1:51 pm

Professional Learning
Richard Katz starts 2009 Merit Member Conference
By Brian Warkoczeski - June 11, 2009 10:47 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 6.8.09
By Gregory Monroe - June 08, 2009 11:52 am

Merit Network Blog
New White Paper on Botnets Released
By Brian Warkoczeski - June 03, 2009 4:40 pm

Merit Stimulus Blog
Merit Stimulus Blog 6.1.09
By Gregory Monroe - June 01, 2009 12:56 pm

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 5.29
By Brian Warkoczeski - May 29, 2009 11:42 am

Merit Stimulus Blog
Introducing Merit Stimulus Blog
By Gregory Monroe - May 26, 2009 12:56 pm

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 5.18
By Brian Warkoczeski - May 18, 2009 4:14 pm

Merit Network Blog
New RSS Feeds Available
By Brian Warkoczeski - May 14, 2009 10:02 am

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 5.8
By Brian Warkoczeski - May 08, 2009 9:44 am

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 4.30
By Brian Warkoczeski - April 30, 2009 3:41 pm

Merit Network Blog
MJTS video archive now available
By Brian Warkoczeski - April 23, 2009 2:02 pm

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 4.17
By Brian Warkoczeski - April 17, 2009 11:33 am

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 4.9
By Brian Warkoczeski - April 09, 2009 3:33 pm

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 4.2
By Brian Warkoczeski - April 02, 2009 10:08 am

Merit Network Blog
Informative Mailing Lists
By Brian Warkoczeski - March 30, 2009 11:26 am

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 3.24
By Brian Warkoczeski - March 24, 2009 8:28 am

Merit Network Blog
Stimulus Legislation Information
By Brian Warkoczeski - March 17, 2009 8:44 am

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 3.11
By Brian Warkoczeski - March 11, 2009 10:46 am

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 3.3
By Brian Warkoczeski - March 02, 2009 4:51 pm

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 2.23
By Brian Warkoczeski - February 23, 2009 11:25 am

Merit Network Blog
NANOG45 Presentations Available Online
By Brian Warkoczeski - February 16, 2009 1:47 pm

Merit Network Blog
Members in the News 2.12
By Brian Warkoczeski - February 12, 2009 10:44 am

Merit Network Blog
Featured Speakers for Merit Member Conference
By Brian Warkoczeski - February 02, 2009 4:34 pm

Merit Network Blog
Merit Services Webinar
By Brian Warkoczeski - January 29, 2009 4:16 pm

Merit Network Blog
Technology issues part of first week for new President
By Brian Warkoczeski - January 23, 2009 12:28 pm

Merit Network Blog
Merit Services Seminar Videos
By Brian Warkoczeski - January 05, 2009 9:56 am

Merit Network Blog
E-Rate Application Window
By Brian Warkoczeski - December 02, 2008 8:19 am

Merit Network Blog
Is Web technology improving your brain?
By Brian Warkoczeski - October 27, 2008 4:15 pm

Merit Network Blog
IP V6
By Donald J. Welch - October 17, 2008 12:53 pm

Merit Network Blog
PBS and YouTube Aim to Document Election Day
By Brian Warkoczeski - October 16, 2008 10:01 am

Merit Network Blog
Justice Department Releases Cybercrime Survey Results
By Brian Warkoczeski - September 23, 2008 4:54 pm

Merit Network Blog
Internet Traffic Growth Slowing World-Wide, But Utilization Up in U.S.
By Donald J. Welch - September 08, 2008 9:50 am

Merit Network Blog
NANOG Launches New Web Site
By Brian Warkoczeski - September 08, 2008 8:51 am

Merit Network Blog
Price War Erupts for High-Speed Internet Home Service
By Donald J. Welch - September 02, 2008 10:58 am

Merit Network Blog
Manage It or Just Buy More
By Donald J. Welch - August 28, 2008 8:49 am

Merit Network Blog
Net Neutrality vs. File Sharing on Campus
By Donald J. Welch - August 25, 2008 10:13 am

Merit Network Blog
Thinking About Virtual Worlds
By Donald J. Welch - August 25, 2008 9:40 am

Merit Network Blog
What is Merit?
By Donald J. Welch - August 20, 2008 4:33 pm

Merit Network Blog
New Merit Network Blogs
By Brian Warkoczeski - August 18, 2008 9:56 am





 



Home
Print this.
Print This
Send This.
Send This


About Merit | Services | Network | Resources & Support | Network Research
News | Events | Contact | Site Map | Merit Widget | Merit Network Home


Copyright © 2009 Merit Network, Inc.
1000 Oakbrook Drive, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-6794
Phone: (734) 527-5700    Fax: (734) 527-5790    E-mail: