Google Uses Searches to Track Flu’s Spread

Want to know how bad the flu is in your state? Ask Google.

The all-knowing search engine has a new tool, Google Flu Trends, that estimates U.S. flu activity a week to 10 days earlier than government disease trackers such as hospital visits and other reports to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The gadget compiles the info by aggregating search queries for the virus geographically. It then spits out daily estimates of where outbreaks are likely. Read more.