Flu Numbers

We love flu stories and before you go and point to the latest news and tell us how we're wrong here's why we love them. The flu can be prevented. The flu has to be passed from one individual to another. It's not in the air and its not in the water so its not that it can sneak up on you. It's preventable and we're glad that the numbers for prior years aren't valid - which is what the news report should say.

"This report updates estimates of the number of influenza-associated deaths from the 1976--77 through 2006--07 influenza seasons and demonstrates the substantial variability in mortality estimates by year, influenza virus type/subtype, and age group. The estimated rates of influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths vary substantially from one influenza season to the next, depending, in part, on the characteristics of the circulating influenza virus strains (10). Because of this variability, a single estimate cannot be used to summarize influenza-associated deaths." (CDC)

"Estimates of Deaths Associated with Seasonal Influenza — United States, 1976–2007" that's the story. Three (3), count them three (3) years ago that was true. Looking back we were wrong. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says so. Or think of it this way - the prior administration was wrong! They're saying when they guessed at the figures. Not us - but the ones that came before us were using fuzzy math.

So don't gloat! It's so unbecoming of you. Remember the headlines said or rather should have emphasized that its the ESTIMATES that are rather were too high! Not the number of deaths and dead. The actual numbers were right on the money. While that is true, the actual incidences don't change. The facts are the facts. The speculation might have been off, well, they were off. While the West Nile virus hasn't made it's way south to our region the fact that a Boston woman over the age of 45 has been affected doesn't change the facts that real people die real deaths. Estimates don't kill people. Viruses kills people. The flu kills people. The wrong foods kill people. The air kills people.

When we are born there may not be an expiration date stamped on us anywhere but we are not long for this life. It's not our goal to stress you out about that. You're an adult and we think you know this. It's what we do with the time we have that matters. Enjoy your life. Enjoy your family. Enjoy your world. We just want to point out the potholes in the road. The bumps in your way so that you can navigate away from them and not be interrupted in your journey. Enjoy today and every day.