New iPhone App Gives 24x7 Swine Flu CoverageNew iPhone App Gives 24x7 Swine Flu Coverage

Swine flu is permeating everywhere these days--not just the virus, but news about it. But if you're still not getting your fill of H1N1, Harvard Medical School has released a new iPhone app that provides real-time updates while you're on the move.Besides news updates from sources, such as the CDC, the new HMSMobile Swine Flu Center features animation, video and text providing tips ranging from how to avoid catching H1N1 (wash your hands), to preparing your business for a pandemic (set up employee guides), to the stockpile of supplies you should have at home (flashlights and batteries). The app also features "health maps" so that you can locate swine flu outbreaks nearest to you, as well as "hotline" phone numbers "based on your geo-location."

Not feeling so great? The app also includes an interactive symptom-checker to help you figure out whether your complaints match up with H1N1.

Priced at $1.99, the app is a bargain, especially considering a package of disposable surgical masks costs more and researchers say the covers probably won't prevent you getting infected anyway, although you might feel a bit more empowered (but freakish) wearing one.

The folks at Harvard say the new H1N1 iPhone app is the first in a new series of HMSMobile applications developed in collaboration by Harvard Medical School scientists and doctors, Harvard Business School Publishing and "strategic partner," The Imagine Network.

And given swine flu is a global threat, the app is available in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian.

If you're still not convinced you need H1N1 updates on-the-go, Harvard Medical School reminds us that there have been 180,000 cases of H1N1 flu worldwide so far this year, according to the World Health Organization, and that the White House has predicted that 160 million infections and 90,000 deaths are "plausible" this winter.

On that sour note, heard any good tunes lately?