Snow Week 6 Flu in 2010

The best part of being snowed in is that the flu is either not reported or not spread. While we're huddled up with each other we're not likely to spread our virus to another outside our immediate families or be infected by another's virus. That the numbers are small is a very good thing. You might have been feeling cabin fever but chances are you weren't feeling the flu.

Flu Deaths 2010 by Jurisdiction  This Week Last Week YTD 2010 YTD 2009 YTD 2008 YTD 2007 District of Columbia Baltimore, MD Charlotte, NC Richmond/Norfolk,VA 1 16 12 5 U 14 14 7 8 102 73 37 12 118 41 53 11 100 72 38 7 103 72 38 TOTALS WEEK 6  34  35  220  224  221  220

During week 6 (February 7-13, 2010), influenza activity remained at approximately the same levels as last week in the U.S... ...No states reported widespread influenza activity, three states reported regional influenza activity, Puerto Rico and nine states reported local influenza activity, the District of Columbia and 35 states reported sporadic influenza activity, the U.S. Virgin Islands and three states reported no influenza activity, and Guam did not report. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

While the flu numbers were down unfortunately deaths by accidents or accidentally injuries were probably up as the number of deaths for the week weren't lower than usual. In the District of Columbia 107 individuals died the highest of 2010 to the week six (6) date. For Richmond where snow wasn't as serious a problem their overall death totals (41) were the lowest for 2010. Norfolk wasn't as fortunate, with 60 deaths closer to year's low of 51 for 2010. Charlotte had little snow and little change in their totals of 126 overall deaths which is consistent with their weekly numbers for 2010. Baltimore (Maryland) has, traditionally, the highest numbers of death though not the highest for 2010 with 171 this week.

Colds Kill Week 5

When we were babies and we know you don't remember but all first time parents appear overly concerned about every cough, sneeze and sniffle their first child makes. Whether its late night calls to the doctor for a warm forehead or obsessive concern for every change in their child. To what we now know about our selves that we're not concerned for our cough, sneezes or sniffles unless we're knocked off our feet. Somewhere between that first overly obsessed concern to our belief in our own invincibility is a need for some concern for the realities of life.

2010 FLU DEATHS THIS LAST 2010 2009 2008 2007 District of Columbia Baltimore, MD Charlotte, NC Richmond / Norfolk, VA U 14 14 7 1 24 10 7 7 86 61 32 9 96 29 45 8 82 62 32 4 81 62 36 TOTALS (Week 5) 35 42 186 179 184 183

One such reality is that colds kill. They especially kill when we believe we should be unconcerned. We need to see the realities that can affect our daily lives. A mother's concern can sometimes still not be enough to keep their infant child alive. A mother's kiss, breast or touch can kill their just born prodigy.

"HOW HUMAN MILK PROTECTS FROM ILLNESS - Human milk is more than food. It's a complex living substance, like blood, with a long list of active germ-fighting and health-promoting ingredients. These help protect babies against all kinds of infections, common and not-so-common." (Ask Dr. Sears)

Research disproves what doctors and patients might believe to be true. What we offer is hope for all and not just those with a natural resistance who are survivors. What we offer is survival information for all.

"During the week of January 31 – February 6, 2010, most key flu indicators remained about the same as during the previous week... ...Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) nationally increased slightly over last week but remain low overall. ...Very few 2009 H1N1 laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations were reported by states during the week ending February 6 for most age groups." (CDC)

What we never realized is that jurisdictions that are closed do not report their area deaths. Well if they can't report then people don't die. Oh, wait they do! We get our information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What our local governments tell the federal government is not what they tell - we the people.