WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News LeaderInternet flu searches may warn of outbreaks

Internet flu searches may warn of outbreaks

Updated:
© iStockphoto / Thinkstock © iStockphoto / Thinkstock

  • What's Going Around

  • Wednesday, May 16 2012 10:51 AM EDT2012-05-16 14:51:04 GMT
    The heat is on, and one way to get relief is by hitting the pool or Gulf, but be aware of swimmer's ear. Dr. Timothy Nichols from Emerald Coast Urgent Care says when water gets trapped in the ear canal,
    As the temperature warms, the cases of swimmer's ear are increasing.

  • Wednesday, May 9 2012 10:46 AM EDT2012-05-09 14:46:26 GMT
    Dr. Timothy Nichols from Emerald Coast Urgent Care says clinics have seen a significant rise in pink eye recently. Dr. Nichols explains that symptoms include: a red eye a gritty sensation in the
    Red and watery eyes should not be ignored. It could signal an infection of the eye.  Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is going around this week.

  • Wednesday, May 2 2012 11:53 AM EDT2012-05-02 15:53:10 GMT
    An increase in Upper Respiratory Infections is now leading to a complication of the sinuses. Dr. Timothy Nichols from Emerald Coast Urgent Care says Sinusitis, an infection of the sinus cavities, is
    An onslaught of Upper Respiratory Infections is now leading to a complication of the sinuses.

  • Medical Central is the source for local doctors to advertise their businesses, as well as provide clients and viewers with valuable information on their fields of study.

  • What's Going Around? is proudly sponsored by:
     
    Emerald Coast Urgent Care
    11111 Panama City Beach Pkwy.
    Panama City Beach, Florida 32407
    (850) 236-8655

  • Jessica Foster is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and has worked at WMBB since 2004. She is excited to bring the news to you each weekday on News13 This Morning. Jessica produces 3 medical segments weekly- What's Going Around, Modern Medicine and Mayo Clinic reports.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Keeping an eye on Internet search traffic about the flu can provide hospital emergency departments with an early warning system about potential surges in seasonal flu cases, a new study suggests.

This approach may be more effective than waiting for outdated government flu case reports, the Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers said.

They tracked and reviewed Google Flu Trends data for Baltimore and matched that with data on people seeking care for flu at the Johns Hopkins Hospital between January 2009 and October 2010.

The 21-month study found a strong connection between a rise in Internet searches for flu information and a subsequent increase in the number of people with flu-like symptoms coming to the hospital emergency room.

The findings show promise for eventually developing a standard regional or national flu early warning system for emergency department managers and staff, said study senior investigator Dr. Richard Rothman, an emergency medicine physician and researcher at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in a Hopkins news release.

The study was published in the Jan. 9 issue of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Currently, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention flu case reports issued between October and May are the main way that emergency departments and other health care facilities and providers track flu outbreaks.

However, these case reports are often weeks old by the time they reach front-line health care workers. Google Flu Trends collects and provides daily data on search traffic for flu information, and examinations of this data can be narrowed to specific geographic regions, time frames and other denominators.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about seasonal flu.

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.