We can be big babies when it comes to dealing with the flu — but that’s only because we’re used to being a healthy, happy bunch of people. Google’s influenza tracker shows just how well Australia fares compared to some European countries and the US.
Google’s Flu Trends tracks queries to determine who has the flu and where, including search topics like “flu cure”. The United States and Canada are red-lining on the flu right now, which is to be expected somewhat since it’s winter over there. Just look at that map! You can click through to overlay specific previous years’ data or go in-depth in specific states or cities.
Australia’s flu map over the past six years looks far less aggressive in comparison. Spikes typically occur between June and September, but they stay well below the “intense” level currently being experienced in North America. [Google Flu Trends]