Flu Week 45 No Deaths in Norfolk

We look for hope in the midst of despair. Things have subsided more than they have declined. When news outlets proclaim the end is near they appear more desperate than helpful. We want good news and we'll focus on the good news when others focus only on the bad. There is a great deal to offer is hope. We didn't get sick and die and neither did you if you're reading this. Others weren't so lucky. While the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) added to its number of infections and their roll out of immunizations has not been a disaster. DC reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) two (2) deaths after two weeks of no numbers reported. This when the numbers of deaths are remaining steady all over. Norfolk reported no deaths for this week. The CDC reported nine (9) pediatric deaths in our region three (3) the total death numbers for just our trio-jurisdictional area was reported as twenty-eight (28) for this week ending November 14, 2009. If you include North Carolina (region four (4)) that adds an additional eleven (11) deaths which is still a decline over the two (2) previous years for the state.

Flu Deaths Week 45 2009 2008 2007 District of Columbia Baltimore, MD Richmond / Norfolk, VA Charlotte, NC 99 675 227 431 78 724 192 436 68 578 199 435 TOTALS 1432 1430 1280

We applaud Norfolk's success if that what it is we hate their Department of Public Health website which appears to be produced for the director and some really boring nerdy kids with their very gross "sneeze in your sleeve" video presentation. Has no one ever heard of Kleenex? Or at the very least of tissues, even toilet paper will do in a pinch. Keep a roll in your pocket and pull as you need!

There have been so many stories to cover and so much data to analyze from so many studies that all seem to connect. We've made the connections after putting all the data together that specifically relates to our jurisdictions. Forgive our absence but we've never stop working and there is so much to report.