When "going viral" is a double, no triple, entendre

My friend Rumi Chunara writes about a fascinating research project she is working on at Boston Children's Hospital (funded by the National Science Foundation). She's looking for people from Massachusetts to sign up.

Flu Near You is a free and real-time online surveillance system administered by Healthmap, a research group at Boston Children’s Hospital. This year we are recruiting people from Massachusetts for a next-generation study that will revolutionize infectious disease prevention and awareness by making it community-based and data-driven.

Who can participate: Anyone who wishes to take a proactive and data-driven approach to improve their own health and that of their household and community members.

What participants will do: Eligible participants who log in and report symptoms weekly using our website or mobile app will get a Do-It-Yourself flu test kit and a saliva collection system that they can keep and use at home if they are feeling sick. The home test detects 4 different kinds of flu and cold viruses, and all samples will be analyzed at a central laboratory that checks for 20 different viral infections. GoViral participants will get the results of their own tests and as well, through the aggregate data, be able to see in real-time what infections and symptoms are going around near them so they can take appropriate public health measures and understand when something might be abnormal.

Flu Near You is completely free to use. Results from the tests will be used for research purposes only. Data from each group will be aggregated and visualized in an easy to interpret yet anonymized manner.

How you will benefit: GoViral Participants will be able to track their own history throughout the season and learn what virus they have when they are feeling sick. As well, through the aggregate data, be able to see in real-time what infections and symptoms are going around right near them so they can take appropriate public health measures and understand when something might be abnormal.

Be involved in and shape an innovative model for the future of public health. Read details and join here. Contact the study lead, Dr. Rumi Chunara, at Goviral@flunearyou.org if you have questions.