Google?s new system, known as Flu Trends, works by monitoring search data terms, then displays the number of flu cases in real time.

However, as the concept is still in its infancy, the product still isn?t quite up to speed and data can be around two weeks old.

Flu Trends uses a specific group of words, put together by Google engineers, which are related to the flu virus, such as ?fever?, ?flu symptoms? and influenza?.

Other popular search terms include ?chest congestion? and ?muscle aches?.

Jeremy Ginsberg and Matt Mohebbi, software engineers at Google, have told the press that they compared their data from text entered into Google searches with data from the United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

Through this, they found many links between the frequency of Google?s search terms and the amount of flu cases recorded weekly by the CDC.

At the moment, the tracker, which is works alongside an interactive online map, is only available for the United States; however, experts say it won?t be long before this kind of facility is used throughout the rest of the world.

But remember, even when Flu Tracker has expanded its tracking areas to cater for every country, there?s still no better way to ensure you stay flu-free than to have a vaccination at your local medical centre.