Google searches for gastrointestinal symptoms like loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, helped experts predict hotspots of Covid-19.
The study, which was published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, looked at search trends during the period between January to April 2020. It found that search trends correlated with cases in New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts and Illinois, all of which became hotspots of Covid-19 3 to 4 weeks later.
The study conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital highlights that Google Trends may be a valuable tool for prediction of pandemics with Gastrointestinal manifestations.