Google Flu Trends is a new Google project that tracks search engine terms and determines what parts of the country may currently be experiencing a flu outbreak. During the 2007-2008 flu season, searches for flu and flu-related symptoms corresponded to locations where outbreaks were occurring. During the 2008-2009 season, Google Flu Trends will track such searches in real time, displaying those locations around the country where the most people are searching for flu-related terms.The New York Times: Google Uses Web Searches to Track Flu’s Spread (November 11, 2008)

"This could conceivably provide as early a warning of an outbreak as any system... The earlier the warning, the earlier prevention and control measures can be put in place, and this could prevent cases of influenza."—Lyn Finelli, head of influenza surveillance division at CDCThe New York Times: Google Uses Web Searches to Track Flu’s Spread (November 11, 2008)

"This is an example where Google can use the incredible systems that we have to come up with an interesting, predictive result. From a technological perspective, it is the beginning."—Eric Schmidt, Google CEOThe New York Times: Google Uses Web Searches to Track Flu’s Spread (November 11, 2008)