Flu Virus Complaints Wanted! Vent About Influenza Symptoms on New Health Website

Facebook for flu sufferers? A new public health site called FluNearYou.org wants you to log on and complain lots about how miserable this year's flu virus has made you feel.

The site aims to map every flu case in the U.S. The ultimate goal: to predict each year when, where, and how severely flu will strike -- faster than the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and other government systems do -- and to gauge how well the annual flu vaccine is working. The site could help you dodge aches, chills, fever, and sore throat by warning you if there's a flu outbreak (less hand shaking, more hand washing, extra sleep) around you. Find out if it's too late to get a flu shot.

This isn't a new idea. Australia's FluTracking project started in 2004; today, 10,000 people are online every week. Europe's Influenzanet started in 2003, and now tracks flu and chicken soup sales (okay, not really) in 10 countries.

While the CDC and others monitor U.S. flu patterns, they rely on lab data and doctor visits, which isn't lightning-fast or grass-roots accurate. We YOU Docs use Google Flu Trends, which -- based on the number of searches about flu symptoms -- spots patterns a week or two sooner than the CDC. If FluNearYou succeeds, it could be more specific than Google and just as fast (we doubt anyone can beat Google's speed). Be sure you can tell the difference between cold symptoms and flu symptoms.

Specificity is the point of the venting. Not only will your family be grateful that someone else is listening to you, but the more you rant about the severity of your flu symptoms (e.g., how sick you feel, how long it's been going on), the more accurately FluNearYou can tell how tough the current flu is. Whining: It's your public duty.

These 10 flu and cold remedies will make you feel better fast.