It’s snowing, it’s cold and everyone seems to be coughing or sniffling. It’s official – it’s winter and flu season is upon us. But thanks to Google, we can track where the flu is most prevalent and where the illness is moving.

Google Flu Trends is new this winter and has even beaten the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in predicting flu outbreaks. The site uses aggregated Google search terms to estimate flu activity in each state. Right now Wisconsin’s flu level is low.

According to the flu trends Web site, “during the 2007-’08 flu season, an early version of Google Flu Trends was used to share results each week with the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch of the Influenza Division at CDC. Across each of the nine surveillance regions of the U.S., we were able to accurately estimate current flu levels one to two weeks faster than published CDC reports.”

I think that is amazing. Google is changing the world one search term at a time. And think of the possibilities – this could be used to track even more dangerous and contagious diseases. The site also shows regional trends, which means it can help studies of how weather, climate and even different environmental factors – like factories or urban sprawl – affect immune systems.

Google never ceases to amaze me. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.