title: Correlation between reported human infection with avian influenza A H7N9 virus and cyber user awareness: what can we learn from digital epidemiology?
abstract: Data on the topic of novel avian influenza A (H7N9) were collected based on the web analysis tool 'Baidu Index', a major Chinese search engine. We found a positive correlation between the volume of H7N9-related 'cyber user awareness' and the epidemic situation during the H7N9 outbreak in China (r=0.98, p<0.01, cumulative; r=0.43, p=0.018, daily) except in the early stage; the ranks of H7N9-related topics changed at different epidemic stages. This study may improve our understanding of the role of web-based media in infectious disease surveillance in China.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310031, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Tiansheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310031, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zongxing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310031, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shigui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310031, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Nanping
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310031, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, China. Electronic address: ljli@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lanjuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance; D064766:Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000821:virology; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Avian influenza; Cyber user awareness; Epidemiology; Public health policy; Social networks