Topic: OBSOLETE! Scripts to Display CDC Influenza Maps

[gwwilk]

I didn't quite finish the fixes to 'inc-flumap.php' on the 23^rd.   The current version will correctly display this year's map on initial page load.  You can get the newly revised 'inc-wxflumap.php'  here. (Save as usual.)

[Breezy]

Jerry,

Got it !!! Thanks.   

Jeff

[gwwilk]

There were more problems with these maps today. The current week's map didn't have a link so it obviously wasn't displaying on mouseover.  This has been corrected in today's version.  The only modifications were to 'inc-flumaps.php', but I've updated the version on all three scripts to today's date for consistency's sake.  Here is the current script's output.

Current Flu Season Scripts Version 20160129:
  wxflumap.php
  flumap-select.php
  inc-flumap.php

The Past Flu Season Scripts are unchanged from Oct. 2015

[Breezy]

Jerry, Thanks. Updated ... 

Jeff

[gwwilk]

There was a huge change in the CDC's Flu Map script and presentation this week!  The current maps are no longer available in the same format because they've scripted the map with 'hover' changes and a slideshow of the current year with individual maps selectable at random.  It's a significant improvement over their old presentation, and better achieves what I was attempting with my 'Current Season' script.  Kudos to them!

BUT, their scripters didn't quite realize how past flu maps weren't regularly named, so their past season presentation isn't quite ready for prime time--it hangs, for me anyway.

I don't think I need to continue with my version of the 'Current Season', so I've merely linked to the CDC's page in my menu.  However I think there's still some merit in keeping my 'Past Seasons' in the mix, so it remains in my menu until the CDC sorts out the problems with their new presentation.

[gwwilk]

Today the historical flu seasons are working on the CDC's site!  With that, my menu links only to their site for flu maps.  I really like what the CDC has done with these maps.

[Jáchym]

Hi,
you could use the XML feeds, I used that on my page and they (fortunately) didnt change that
http://www.meteotemplate.com/template/plugins/fluUS/
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/flureport.xml

[gwwilk]

Hi,
you could use the XML feeds, I used that on my page and they (fortunately) didnt change that
http://www.meteotemplate.com/template/plugins/fluUS/
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/flureport.xml

Looks great, Jachym!  I don't have much experience with XML feeds, so I'm not sure how to go about that.  Also, the past seasons are nice for comparison purposes.  Thinking about their presentation, it isn't that easy to compare week-by-week with a 'hover' like it is with my presentation.  I think I'll restore it as an alternative.

[Jáchym]

LOL, I can help you with XML, it is not that difficult to use in PHP and thanks for the idea, I might actually see if I can make some comparison scripts too using the XML feed

If you want to have a look at the code, you can download mine here:
http://www.meteotemplate.com/web/plugins.php

It is called "Flu U.S."

The advantage of using XML or JSON is always the fact it is less vulnerable to changes, these feeds are meant for use by others so they dont change them often (with the exception of NWS...)

[gwwilk]

LOL, I can help you with XML, it is not that difficult to use in PHP and thanks for the idea, I might actually see if I can make some comparison scripts too using the XML feed

If you want to have a look at the code, you can download mine here:
http://www.meteotemplate.com/web/plugins.php

It is called "Flu U.S."

The advantage of using XML or JSON is always the fact it is less vulnerable to changes, these feeds are meant for use by others so they dont change them often (with the exception of NWS...)

I borrowed your code and adapted it to run in the Saratoga template.  The versatility of Highcharts is very impressive--downloading charts in different formats, even!  Thanks!

[Jáchym]

Yes, looks nice

[gwwilk]

Yes, looks nice

Thanks, Jáchym, but you did all of the heavy lifting.  I just provided a framework.  It also occurred to me that I hadn't properly credited you for your fine work.  Corrected.

[Jáchym]

NP, and thanks, it is always great to see how people co-operate here

[gwwilk]

Just a little tweak to the code today...I rotated the array so that the latest week will be the default, like here.  I've been a little brain dead since I've been building my own server for the past couple of weeks with a Lenovo server (open box from Newegg at half price) on Linux Debian.  Lots and lots of issues, and it's not secured with SSL yet.  Doing things like trying to serve multiple secure domains from one IP address by using nginx as a reverse-proxy to apache2 on the server and to another box here (believe it or not, a Raspberry Pi!) that hosts a different site.  The site mirrors and will eventually replace my GoDaddy server. With a theoretical 1GB bandwidth up and down on my fiber connection, why not?  Plus it's a real learning experience!!!

The modified 'flu-main' code.

Thanks again, Jáchym!

[gwwilk]

For the past two weeks the CDC's Flumap XML data file has been missing the latest data, first week 19 and now week 20, so
through no fault of his Jáchym's script is no longer inclusive. 

Meanwhile the CDC has VASTLY improved their presentation of the Flu data.  They've also cleverly incorporated not only the display of all of this season's maps but all of the past seasons where data is available back to 2003-2004.

I've abandoned my flu maps in favor of a link to the CDC's far better presentation. Kudos to them!   What I originally perceived as deficiencies in the way they handled their flu maps have now been thoroughly overcome, and then some.

[jgillett]

Thank you for that update, Jerry.

[Breezy]

Thanks for the new link, Jerry  .  Happy Memorial Day ...

Jeff

[Jáchym]

I emailed them asking if the XML feed will continue.

[Jáchym]

This system only runs during weeks 40-20 of the flu season. We have moved to an abbreviated FluView report over the summer months (weeks 21-39). It will be updated again starting at week 40 of the 2017-18 season in October. Thank you for contacting CDC-INFO. For more information, please call 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), visit www.cdc.gov and click on “Contact CDC-INFO,” or go to www.cdc.gov/info.