Ebola and the spread of influenza sparked local, national and global concerns regarding health and sanitation, heightening awareness about the need to take preventative measures -- as well as contain and treat viruses before they become a public concern.

In light of National Flu Awareness Month, Flu Near You can help to control the influenza virus.

Flu Near You, an innovative tool and resource, can quell the spread of illness. The intuitive app shares public health knowledge through comprehensive real-time visualization of symptoms and influenza-like activity. It can also accurately show how the flu moves on a local level by asking users to share details about the spread of illnesses in their own communities.

Created through a partnership between HealthMap at Boston Children's Hospital, the American Public Health Association and the Skoll Global Threats Fund, Flu Near You allows users to anonymously submit local influenza outbreaks, creating mapping that displays a forecast, showcasing how illnesses affect the population presently and in the near future.

Staying healthy and informed can save lives, particularly when it comes to vulnerable communities and densely populated areas. Vaccines, antivirals and control measures, like social distancing and handwashing, can reduce the transmission of influenza and alleviate public health threats.

"We're in a world where you can't always go to the doctor. And while we hope that everyone takes preventative measures, we know that everyone gets ill," Jennifer Olsen, manager of pandemics at the Skoll Global Threats Fund, said to Latin Post. "So, it's comforting to have an application that offers a visualization of the day-to-day, showing you how much flu is going on where you live, and letting you know when you should pack some extra hand sanitizer."

With the emerging trend of health apps, Flu Near You sets itself apart. The application is a compilation of public input, expert tracking, self-reporting and complex surveillance, leading to the development of a functional tool that can combat contamination and contagion during the flu season. Because flu is often underreported, it's difficult to understand the reach of the flu and its real effects on the country or certain communities.

"The elderly and the young are most often compromised [during the flu season], but everyone's at risk of getting the flu no matter how old you are. And one of the biggest misconceptions about the spread of the flu is that people think that they won't get it," Olsen said.

Flu Near You's registered participants help with the effectiveness of the app by answering weekly questions to keep the tool up-to-date. Anyone residing in the United States, 13 years of age or older can sign up at flunearyou.org

Each Monday, registered participants are asked a pair of questions: "Do you have any of the following symptoms?" (with a checklist of 10 symptoms) and "Have you had the flu shot?" through a notification via email and mobile app. After responding, a map pops up, showing how many people are feeling healthy or sickly in a given area. The self-reported data is then weighed against Google Flu Trends and official CDC data.

The app also provides links to useful information about flu and convenient locations to get vaccinated. By entering individual zip codes, participants can discover what flu conditions will be like in the weeks in advance, which is helpful when staying at home or when preparing to travel. This prevents outbreaks, reduces hospitalization and ensures healthy living.

Check out Flu Near You in the app store, Google Play and on Twitter.

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