How to Track H1N1 Flu Outbreak on Maps
With the H1N1 flu continuing to make headlines all over the world, it is useful to track the outbreaks. There are several good maps available to help people visualize the spread of this disease. Many areas have scaled back routine testing for the H1N1 virus, making the recent confirmed case numbers lower than actual, but the fatalities should continue to be reported.
One map available is the Rhiza FluTracker (pictured above). It uses data compiled by Dr. Henry Niman, a biomedical researcher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using technology provided by Rhiza Labs and Google. The map is interactive and allows the user to drill down to local levels. The legend helps locate suspected and confirmed cases and identifies fatal cases.
The New England Journal of Medicine’s HealthMap also provides an interactive map which allows the user to check boxes to bring up desired types of cases on the map, including suspected, confirmed, ruled out, and fatal cases.
Please visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ for current CDC statements on the H1N1 virus. The site has several easy-to-use maps that allow the reader to see the current situation in particular areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) at http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/ provides a status of the progress of the disease from a gloabal perspective.
