The New York Times article, “Google Uses Searches to Track Flu’s Spread” illustrates the active leap that the Internet has made in the medical field. This came about because the common person tends to use the Internet to answer all of his/her questions. Many Americans, when starting to feel a sickness coming on, try to self-diagnosis themselves by using the Internet. Therefore, this act has “given rise to a new early warning system for fast-spreading flu outbreaks called Google Flu Trends” (Helft, pg.1). For example, in early February, the C.D.C. reported that the flu had recently spiked in the Mid-Atlantic States, but Google Flu Trends realized this two weeks before that report came out. Such a development through the use of the Internet could help the speed of the response of those in the medical field and ultimately reduce the spread of the disease. Some even say that such a trend-spotting can not only help with the awareness of the flu but other disease trends as well. The suspect side of this tool is that it is not validated scientifically, but in the end it only helps the cause of reducing the spread of a disease. In my opinion, this type of trend spotting is fascinating and proves that the Internet’s capabilities are infinite. Hopefully, it turns out to be a successful endeavor, and the medical departments will be able to prevent a disease from spreading.
Gabrielle Yacoob
Thursday 8 am
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