The world is a sick place, and sometimes it can seem that fighting off the flu is harder than surviving a zombie apocalypse. Fortunately, social media can actually help you avoid the flu and other nasty little bugs that want to attack your immune system.

SickWeather doesn’t really have anything to do with the weather but it’s a cute name because sometimes it seems like we accidentally wander into a flu storm or a light scattering of hacking coughs. However, it’s a little easier to avoid these plague-like areas with this handy website and app.

Using an advanced screening algorithm, SickWeater scans Facebook and Twitter for mention of illness. There was a time in the not-too-distant past when this wouldn’t have worked because gross body functions were considered TMI. However, social media has changed what’s socially acceptable so people are just as likely to share that they were up all night with the runs as they are photos of the lunch they’ll be throwing up later.

Based on the illnesses described, a map is generated that reveals sick zones that you can avoid. You can even search by specific illnesses, such as flu, cough, sore throat, and chicken pox, just to name a few. Personally, we think the chicken pox search could come in handy for parents.

If you have an iPhone, the SickWeather app is available for free at the AppStore. Others can use the SickWeather website for free to search out sick zones they’d prefer to avoid.