This Year's Flu Bug is "Particularly Severe"

[ATeam]

"The flu season, which peaks in January and February, is off to a roaring start with a bug that looks 'particularly severe,' according to the Food and Drug Administration."

Full Story

Near our home in Minnesota, hospitals are limiting visitors to immediate family and two people per family to reduce the spread of the flu. The area has been hard hit with more cases and more fatalities than normal. This seems to be a developing trend nationwide as the flu spreads.

It is not too late to get a flu shot. Flu shots are not 100 percent effective, but for their low cost, they are a preventative measure worth taking.

 

[Falligator]

You ain't gotta tell me about it. My mom brought it home from the hospital and I caught it. I was bed ridden for 4 days.

 

[AMonger]

How many consecutive years have they said this? I don't remember the last year they didn't. Same with hurricane season; every year, it's supposed to be particularly bad.

 

[ATeam]

How many consecutive years have they said this? I don't remember the last year they didn't. Same with hurricane season; every year, it's supposed to be particularly bad.

It is not common for area hospitals to restrict visitors to two each from immediate family. It is not common for the death rate from flu to be higher than other years. It is not common for the case count to be as high as it is this year. This year's flu stats are not hurricane season predictions. They are numbers documented after the fact.

The last time the flu was in the news this much was when the fear of a H1N1 pandemic swept the planet. While the forecasts were over-hyped by the media, when the season ended, the stats revealed one of the deadliest flu seasons ever.

Stat discussions can be interesting and media criticism is an ongoing sport. More to the point is your personal health; so wash your hands and get your flu shot.