Google Trends for Formulating GIS Mapping of Disease Outbreaks in India

Abstract

Use of online sources to track disease outbreaks and deliver real-time surveillance in emerging public health threats is becoming the need of the hour as resurgence of diseases challenge global health systems. Recent advances in Geographical Information System (GIS) and mapping technologies have enhanced diseases surveillance programs. The current paradigm shifts are moving towards greater adoption of the ubiquitous internet for GIS deployment. This paper attempts to highlight the applicability of three online disease mapping tools – Google trends (GT), HealthMap and Kazemill as newer paradigms of disease surveillance in India. The study has been limited to comparing the trends obtained from the online tools with freely available public health data for few diseases such as malaria, typhoid and cholera that commonly occur in India. We conclude that GT could possibly be used for providing first hand information of impending disease outbreaks subject to further validation against past trends of the disease to have more relevance.