Mining Social Media and Web Searches For Disease Detection

Yang, Y. Tony; Horneffer, Michael; DiLisio, Nicole

Social networks determine patterns of disease progression among the entire population. In order to arrest the progression of an infectious disease, often very small quantities of vaccine must be administered to a large at-risk population. The highest priority groups identified in an outbreak may be best for individual protection, but may not, however, be optimal to protect the entire population. 11 Highest priority groups for the H1N1 vaccine were health care workers and people who were at risk of severe complications if infected. This included pregnant women, young children, people who lived with or cared for children under six months of age, and children aged 5-18 years with chronic medical conditions. A long-standing policy for seasonal flu includes priority vaccination of the elderly, even though school children and working adults transfer disease at a higher rate due to their having a higher contact rate.