Big data could help battle flu outbreaks

Search engine to cooperate with health authorities in disease control

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention is working with online search giant Baidu to tap its huge user database to help forecast flu outbreaks.

Gao Fu, deputy director of the center, said a data-crunching prediction tool might be available as early as this year to track flu outbreaks nationwide. "Big data will play a major role in safeguarding and improving public health."