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.

IT'S HERE! The Flu is HERE!

The flu is HERE! The vaccine is coming but it's going to be late. The CDC report (issued every Friday at 11AM then but NOT now) what was shown was too plainly understood. The method of reporting and the way the CDC "made it plain" has been removed so you won't and can't understand now bad the situation is and will be.

The Health and Human Services said the programs for our shots should be ready by the time the landlord switches off the air and turns on the heat, in October. That is and will be too late. The fact that the deaths are preventable is the real tragedy. In Virginia the state says that their latest REPORTED death occurred to a female who "had an underlying health condition." We're awaiting a response to our call on what her underlying condition was to which we all might be susceptible to a H1N1 Flu death.

SWINE FLU	Cases	Deaths
District of Columbia OLD	43	0
Maryland	766	4
Virginia	300	2

Can you trust the figures? No! They don't even report the figures anymore. Or if they do they report it its in a way that is not clearly understood. By design? We're not certain. Reporting the numbers and then not when they did and it was clearly understood. That seems strange to us. Well then all it takes is a call to the proper person listed as a contact except the people who answer the phones for the contact person aren't even aware of the current numbers.

We are region three (3) where the CDC reports that has been an over twenty-seven (27.1) per cent increase for this area. Region III consists of: DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV. Only Region IV has a greater rate of infection and consists: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN.

The definition of an epidemic: "affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time." 36,000 people die EVERY year from the flu which fits the definition of SOME of the worst epidemic in US history. "1942-53 Polio continued to ravage the U.S., peaking in 1952 with about 60,000 cases. Worst epidemic since 1916." This is what is expected when the season starts in October. This is prior to the season with a total deaths so far of 353 preventable lives. In Virginia 1,000 citizens are EXPECTED to die from the flu in a normal year. In Maryland 1,000 citizens are EXPECTED to die as well. Hopefully it won't be us and if the trend continues it'll probably be a child and senior that we know and love. We deserve better with our knowledge and technology we deserve better. Let's "thin the herd" through competition and accomplishments not through neglect and ignorance.

The Flu is Coming

The flu is coming! I mean the vaccine is coming. The vaccine is coming! With 170 deaths and counting according to the current CDC report (issued every Friday at 11AM) but with some states showing widespread infections the president's Health and Human Services said the programs for our shots should be ready by the time the landlord switchs off the air and turns on the heat, in October. Or for the homeowners among you that means as soon as you get to changing the air filters in your furnaces.

SWINE FLU	Cases	Deaths
District of Columbia	43	0
Maryland	686	2
Virginia	300	2

Can you trust the figures? No! Even in the case of the District of Columbia in their last report to the city their figures issued June 19, 2009 their count has higher than the posted CDC report figures. Maryland doesn't release their current figures on the website but they did issue a press release about their second death WBOC TV16 reports the figure at 686. Virginia's site publishes their numbers by county and their numbers issued yesterday are higher than published with an additional death as well.