NAME: GoogleTrendsDoc.txt
TYPE: Sample
SIZE: 230 observations, 6 variables

DESCRIPTIVE ABSTRACT: Data set contains information on Google searches for terms related to the flu.  Data from Google Insights using search parameter “flu symptoms” from Jan. 2004 – May 2008 in U.S.  Query terms included flu symptoms, cold symptoms, fever, and a mysterious query #4.

SOURCES: 
Eric Nordmoe

VARIABLE DESCRIPTIONS:

Date: 

ilipct: Estimated Percent of Outpatient Visits Exhibiting Flu-Like Symptoms 

flusym: Flu Symptoms Query

coldsym: Cold Symptoms Query

fever: Fever Query

hsbball: High School Basketball Query

SPECIAL NOTES: Arguments have been made that Google query terms can help predict a flu outbreak providing valuable lead time to health care providers.  For example, see Jeremy Ginsberg, Matthew H. Mohebbi, Rajan S. Patel, Lynnette Brammer, Mark S. Smolinski & Larry Brilliant, “Detecting influenza epidemics using search engine query data”, Nature,  457, 1012-1014 (19 February 2009).