Posted by Tina
I got a flu shot in November just before Thanksgiving and I’m very glad I did. I’m the only member of my family that did not get the really tough flu that’s going around. According to the LA Times, this flu has caused “medicine shortages” and “packed ERs” as well as a “rising death toll.”:
Health officials said Friday that 27 people younger than 65 have died of the flu in California since October, compared with three at the same time last year. Nationwide and in California, flu activity spiked sharply in late December and continues to grow. … “Rates of influenza are even exceeding last year, and last year was one of the worst flu seasons in the last decade,” said Dr. Randy Bergen, clinical lead of the flu vaccine program for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. … H3N2 is also a particularly dangerous strain of the flu, experts say. “It tends to cause more deaths and more hospitalizations than the other strains,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, L.A. County’s interim health officer. Of extra concern this year are large numbers of older patients who are showing up at hospitals with the flu and pneumonia, a potentially fatal combination.
Wash hands often. Avoid going out unless it’s necessary. If you do contract this bug take it seriously.
Bad in AZ, too! Up over 20% over last year. Mine arrived on Christmas Eve and am still feeling the effects of it, and I had a flu shot, too.
Am told that it takes 1-2 days for symptoms to show up once you’ve been exposed, and you remain contagious for 5-7 days after you’re first exposed!
Wouldn’t wish this stuff on anyone – even Liberals . . . . . .