The U.S. is in the midst of and Google¡¯s trend map for Japan shows a near-vertical spike in flu searches in the last weeks. Apart from washing your hands regularly, eating healthily and staying fit, there¡¯s not much you can do to prevent getting infected. Or is there?
A new Android app from Docomo called ¡±¡°?allows users to keep an eye on the spread of influenza in their own locality and, if they¡¯re thinking of taking a trip, check ahead of time to see if that area is an influenza hotspot or not.
The app draws data from the . Daily influenza forecasts are extrapolated from prescription information gathered from pharmacies and absentee records for schools. Info includes a report on the dryness level of the air, as drier air is associated with easier spread of flu.
Armed with this app, the modern-day Howard Hughes can decide whether it¡¯s worth risking an outing to a different area or not, or indeed whether it¡¯s safe to leave the house at all!
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