No Tree Falls in DC - Flu Stats 11/6/09

If a person dies in DC and there's no one to report it are they still dead? Good news for DC residents as there were no new deaths to flu or pneumonia reported this week. Which for MD and VA was true last year and the year before - however Maryland is still reporting to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the highest death tolls.

Pneumonia/Flu Deaths WEEK 43 2009 2008 2007 District of Columbia Baltimore, MD Richmond / Norfolk, VA 97 639 217 70 702 182 68 548 191 TOTALS 953 954 807

We love Assistant Surgeon General, Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC. Her press conferences are always so full of truth and information that they're scary. But we can handle the truth. Here it is (LISTEN) and remember don't panic!

• We wouldn't expect this many states to have this widespread of a disease. Flu can last until May.
• More than half the hospitalizations are in people under 25. 90% of the deaths are in people under 65. A flip-flop from what we see with seasonal flu.
• Two-thirds of the children who died from the H1N1 virus have underlying condition that is increase their risk of this problem. The leading underlying conditions in children who have died are severe neurologic problems like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy and asthma in terms of contributing to the severe outcomes.
• People are getting worse. They are not getting better, antivirals may be important.
• I don't think we are at peak as a nation as a whole. What I can say is that disease continues to occur at very high levels now.
  
  

  Total Doses Shipped as of* 10/28/09 11/06/09 Change District of Columbia Maryland Virginia 49,000 306,900 489,700 55,900 523,500 781,800 61% 44% 40% TOTALS 579400 1,361,200 43%

• The other thing to mention is that in pandemics in the past, it's been tricky to predict too far ahead. In 1957 there was a substantial amount of disease in the fall. People thought, pretty much gave the all-clear sign, then there was an increase in severe disease. Another wave in '58. We are very mindful that there's a long flu season ahead and we are going to be attentive to the needs of the population, the efforts to try to protect people going forward.
  
Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.

Now yes, we know that sounds pretty bad but when you're being told the worse isn't it reassuring? That is unless you think its worst than that - which we don't. We think this is as bad as it is. We were concerned that the press wasn't telling us how bad it was. This is straight from the sources' mouth. No spin and that's assuring to us. If it's bad - and we know it is. Tell us its bad and what's being done. We'll take it from there. Now take it from here by taking care of yourself and your loved one. It's going to take more than just washing your hands. Get in line and get your shot. IF you're not feeling well go to the hospital and wait in line and get your shot. Don't wait - because you may survive and most of us will. It's not about the best outcome it's about the worse that could happen to YOU!