Google flu trends for Canada

Google Flu Trends offers a glimpse of how many people are sick with the flu based on how many people aresearching for information onflu-related symptoms.

Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it can act as anearly warningof an outbreak.

In Canada, flu season usually runs from November to April and an estimated 10 to 25 per cent of Canadians may get the flu each year.

Mostrecover completely, but an estimated 4,000 to 8,000 Canadians, mostly seniors, die every year from pneumonia related to flu, and many others may die from other serious complications, according to Health Canada.