Digital Epidemiology
It’s the science of conducting
epidemiologic studies using
data coming from digital tools
and sensors, eg the internet or
the smartphones.
Possible Applications
• People movements during outbreaks
• Unusual diseases manifestations in
remote places
• Real time influenza monitoring
• Vaccination confidence
• Information monitoring
Real Examples
Chunara R, Bouton L, Ayers JW, Brownstein JS (2013)
Assessing the Online Social Environment for Surveillance of
Obesity Prevalence.
PLoS ONE 8(4): e61373. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0061373
Bengtsson L, Lu X, Thorson A, Garfield R, von Schreeb J (2011)
Improved Response to Disasters and Outbreaks by Tracking
Population Movements with Mobile Phone Network Data: A Post-
Earthquake Geospatial Study in Haiti.
PLoS Med 8(8): e1001083. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001083
Jeremy Ginsberg1, Matthew H. Mohebbi1, Rajan S. Patel1, Lynnette Brammer2, Mark
S. Smolinski1 & Larry Brilliant1
Detecting influenza epidemics using search engine query data
Nature 457: 1012–1014 doi:10.1038/nature07634.
Online Tools
• Influweb
• Google Flu Trends
• Health map
Our Work
• Twitter flu trends
• Allergy trends
• Maternal Health Monitor
• Vaccination Confidence