CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A new mobile app tracks illness trends and symptoms around the globe.
The Sickweather app provides the world’s first real-time map of human health.
Dave Switzer, director of media relations for Sickweather, said it works just like a weather app.
“Like a Doppler weather radar that tracks weather coming into your area, this tracks illnesses and various health conditions that are going on in a certain geographic location,” he said.
In the Charleston-Huntington area, Switzer said food poisoning, flu and allergies are trending high this week.
The app scans social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook feeds to track what people are reporting on health issues. It also scans what people are posting in the Sickweather app.
Switzer said the purpose of the app is to get people to understand what’s going on around them so they can take proper precautions to prevent sickness.
“It helps people realize ‘well, if this is going on, maybe I need to be a little bit more diligent about washing my hands better, covering my mouth when I cough or just being more aware of things happening around you health wise,” he said.
The app is available for free in iOS and Android stores.
Sickweather also offers a Live Map feature at www.sickweather.com.