OT: Get your flu shots asap!!!
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I shoot brides
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From: Catalina Island
OT: Get your flu shots asap!!!
Just got an email from my gf (infectious disease specialist at major LA hospital) telling me to get the flu shot asap and to let my friends know also. So I'm letting you guys know!! Chicago Tribune is reporting that 70,000 (yes 70 THOUSAND) people are predicted to die this season 
Story from Chicago Tribune:
December 4, 2003
DENVER -- A flu outbreak that is expected to be the nation's worst in at least 30 years is sweeping through schools and workplaces, sending people in droves to their doctors and threatening to cause tens of thousands of deaths.
"Influenza is a killer virus. And the way things are going, this year will be the worst I've seen in my career," said Dr. Greg Poland, 48, director of the vaccine research group at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
He estimates that as many as 70,000 Americans could die from flu complications this winter, almost double the average annual flu death toll of 36,000.
Five children have lost their lives to flu during the past few weeks in Colorado; the death of a 2-year-old with flulike symptoms is under investigation.
At least four Texans, including three children and an adult, have been killed by flu-related illness, as have three elderly nursing home residents in Washington state. In Albuquerque, three children and an adult died of complications from influenza during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
So far, cases in Illinois have been confined largely to Cook County, said Chuck Jennings, influenza surveillance coordinator for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
But as in other parts of the country, the flu has been cropping up earlier than usual in Illinois, making it possible the illness will peak around Christmas and New Year's, a few weeks before its typical mid-January apex.
At fault for the early flu season: a particularly virulent strain known as H3N2, which historically is associated with especially widespread epidemics and particularly high levels of hospitalizations and deaths.
Typically, more than 110,000 Americans are hospitalized each year with flu; this season, the numbers are likely to be higher, Poland said.
Another problem: The H3N2 virus mutated to a variety called the Fujian strain, new to the U.S. While the current flu vaccine was designed to counter three viruses, including H3N2, it doesn't match the Fujian strain exactly.
As a result, "more patients who have received their flu shots are catching the flu and coming in ill," said Dr. Eric France, chief of preventive medicine at Kaiser Permanente, Colorado's largest health maintenance organization, with about 400,000 members.
Doctors at the HMO are seeing 30 to 40 patients a day with influenza symptoms, while dozens more each day are showing up at clinics asking for flu shots.
Fortunately, this year there's no shortage of vaccine as was the case in the past several years--at least not yet. Some 85 million doses were prepared and "there is still a good amount of vaccine in the pipeline," said Tom Skinner, a spokesman at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Vaccine recommended
Although the vaccine doesn't precisely match the dominant Fujian strain of the flu virus this year, it does offer some protection and physicians widely recommend it.
"Get your shots," Skinner said, especially if you're considered at risk, a group that includes young children with immature immune systems, people with chronic health problems such as asthma or diabetes, and older adults.
Texas was the first state to record a widespread flu outbreak, in October. Experts speculate the virus could have come into the Southwestern United States via boat or plane, but they don't really know.
"We've never had this much flu circulating this early. It's unprecedented," said Neil Pascoe, influenza surveillance coordinator for the Texas Department of Health, which does not keep a precise count of flu cases.
Hospitals, however, are keeping tabs. Children's Medical Center in Dallas has recorded 537 cases of influenza this autumn, compared to 95 for the period from October 2002 through April 2003.
Of those children, 37 percent have been sick enough to be admitted to the hospital, and more than 20 children have ended up in intensive care. Three children have died.
"Influenza typically comes into a community through its children, and it does seem we're seeing children who are sicker this year," said Dr. Jane Siegel, chair of the hospital's infection control committee.
Colorado was the next state to be hammered by the illness: As of Wednesday, 6,306 confirmed cases of influenza were recorded, compared with 2,681 for the 2002-03 season.
"That's just the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. Ken Gershman, chief of the communicable disease program at Colorado's Department of Health. "And we still have several more months to go."
Entire schools have been laid low by sore throats, aching muscles and a tiredness that just doesn't seem to go away. The week before Thanksgiving, all three schools in Fairplay, a Colorado mountain community in the center of the state, were closed after 30 percent of their students called in sick.
Children's Hospital in Denver has hospitalized 77 children during the past few weeks, one-third of whom appeared healthy before the flu struck.
Joseph Williams, 8, had never missed a day of school. When the 3rd-grader complained of a stomachache the Saturday before Thanksgiving, his parents weren't overly alarmed. But two days later, his health was declining rapidly. He was admitted to a northern Colorado hospital.
Later that day, Nov. 24, the youngster died after his veins collapsed, according to a report last week in The Denver Post.
No typical symptoms
"It happened so quickly. . . . He didn't have any flu symptoms" like a fever or a cough, said Scott Williams, the boy's father.
Children often do not exhibit the same flu symptoms as adults--they may have more stomachaches and diarrhea, and less of the all-encompassing body aches that adults tend to get, said Dr. Chris Nyquist, medical director for infection control at Children's Hospital.
Scott Williams knows that's all the more reason for parents to be vigilant this flu season.
"I just want to tell other parents. . . . Just have your kids checked if they even act sick," he said the day after his son died.
Story from Chicago Tribune:
December 4, 2003
DENVER -- A flu outbreak that is expected to be the nation's worst in at least 30 years is sweeping through schools and workplaces, sending people in droves to their doctors and threatening to cause tens of thousands of deaths.
"Influenza is a killer virus. And the way things are going, this year will be the worst I've seen in my career," said Dr. Greg Poland, 48, director of the vaccine research group at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
He estimates that as many as 70,000 Americans could die from flu complications this winter, almost double the average annual flu death toll of 36,000.
Five children have lost their lives to flu during the past few weeks in Colorado; the death of a 2-year-old with flulike symptoms is under investigation.
At least four Texans, including three children and an adult, have been killed by flu-related illness, as have three elderly nursing home residents in Washington state. In Albuquerque, three children and an adult died of complications from influenza during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
So far, cases in Illinois have been confined largely to Cook County, said Chuck Jennings, influenza surveillance coordinator for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
But as in other parts of the country, the flu has been cropping up earlier than usual in Illinois, making it possible the illness will peak around Christmas and New Year's, a few weeks before its typical mid-January apex.
At fault for the early flu season: a particularly virulent strain known as H3N2, which historically is associated with especially widespread epidemics and particularly high levels of hospitalizations and deaths.
Typically, more than 110,000 Americans are hospitalized each year with flu; this season, the numbers are likely to be higher, Poland said.
Another problem: The H3N2 virus mutated to a variety called the Fujian strain, new to the U.S. While the current flu vaccine was designed to counter three viruses, including H3N2, it doesn't match the Fujian strain exactly.
As a result, "more patients who have received their flu shots are catching the flu and coming in ill," said Dr. Eric France, chief of preventive medicine at Kaiser Permanente, Colorado's largest health maintenance organization, with about 400,000 members.
Doctors at the HMO are seeing 30 to 40 patients a day with influenza symptoms, while dozens more each day are showing up at clinics asking for flu shots.
Fortunately, this year there's no shortage of vaccine as was the case in the past several years--at least not yet. Some 85 million doses were prepared and "there is still a good amount of vaccine in the pipeline," said Tom Skinner, a spokesman at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Vaccine recommended
Although the vaccine doesn't precisely match the dominant Fujian strain of the flu virus this year, it does offer some protection and physicians widely recommend it.
"Get your shots," Skinner said, especially if you're considered at risk, a group that includes young children with immature immune systems, people with chronic health problems such as asthma or diabetes, and older adults.
Texas was the first state to record a widespread flu outbreak, in October. Experts speculate the virus could have come into the Southwestern United States via boat or plane, but they don't really know.
"We've never had this much flu circulating this early. It's unprecedented," said Neil Pascoe, influenza surveillance coordinator for the Texas Department of Health, which does not keep a precise count of flu cases.
Hospitals, however, are keeping tabs. Children's Medical Center in Dallas has recorded 537 cases of influenza this autumn, compared to 95 for the period from October 2002 through April 2003.
Of those children, 37 percent have been sick enough to be admitted to the hospital, and more than 20 children have ended up in intensive care. Three children have died.
"Influenza typically comes into a community through its children, and it does seem we're seeing children who are sicker this year," said Dr. Jane Siegel, chair of the hospital's infection control committee.
Colorado was the next state to be hammered by the illness: As of Wednesday, 6,306 confirmed cases of influenza were recorded, compared with 2,681 for the 2002-03 season.
"That's just the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. Ken Gershman, chief of the communicable disease program at Colorado's Department of Health. "And we still have several more months to go."
Entire schools have been laid low by sore throats, aching muscles and a tiredness that just doesn't seem to go away. The week before Thanksgiving, all three schools in Fairplay, a Colorado mountain community in the center of the state, were closed after 30 percent of their students called in sick.
Children's Hospital in Denver has hospitalized 77 children during the past few weeks, one-third of whom appeared healthy before the flu struck.
Joseph Williams, 8, had never missed a day of school. When the 3rd-grader complained of a stomachache the Saturday before Thanksgiving, his parents weren't overly alarmed. But two days later, his health was declining rapidly. He was admitted to a northern Colorado hospital.
Later that day, Nov. 24, the youngster died after his veins collapsed, according to a report last week in The Denver Post.
No typical symptoms
"It happened so quickly. . . . He didn't have any flu symptoms" like a fever or a cough, said Scott Williams, the boy's father.
Children often do not exhibit the same flu symptoms as adults--they may have more stomachaches and diarrhea, and less of the all-encompassing body aches that adults tend to get, said Dr. Chris Nyquist, medical director for infection control at Children's Hospital.
Scott Williams knows that's all the more reason for parents to be vigilant this flu season.
"I just want to tell other parents. . . . Just have your kids checked if they even act sick," he said the day after his son died.
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From: Kelowna Canada
Re: OT: Get your flu shots asap!!! (yoshi234)
Most healthy adults 18-50 y.o. have healthy enough immune systems to deal with influenza virus. I would say the vaccine is optional for these individuals.
Young children and the elderly (those with compromised or immature immune systems) are the most likely to suffer complications from the flu.
Healthcare workers (like me) should be immunized as well.
<FONT SIZE="5">BEST DEFENSE: WASH YOUR HANDS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY </FONT>
- most infections like influenza are started by people inoculating themselves by rubbing their eyes, nose or mouth with their dirty dirty hands.
Young children and the elderly (those with compromised or immature immune systems) are the most likely to suffer complications from the flu.
Healthcare workers (like me) should be immunized as well.
<FONT SIZE="5">BEST DEFENSE: WASH YOUR HANDS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY </FONT>
- most infections like influenza are started by people inoculating themselves by rubbing their eyes, nose or mouth with their dirty dirty hands.
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What would Chente do?
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From: socali
Re: OT: Get your flu shots asap!!! (BrewCityR)
I've had very mild flu like symptoms for the past three weeks. Sucks because every other i feel like chit.
Louie~ who was sick when the flu shot people came to his work.
Louie~ who was sick when the flu shot people came to his work.
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From: Feeling FOBulous
Re: OT: Get your flu shots asap!!! (Big Phat R)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Big Phat R »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><FONT SIZE="5">BEST DEFENSE: WASH YOUR HANDS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY </FONT>
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Actually best defense is to stay away from people who don't.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Actually best defense is to stay away from people who don't.
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From: HT PRO POKER PLAYER IM FOR FREE STARTUP, MONEY
Re: OT: Get your flu shots asap!!! (yoshi234)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by yoshi234 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just got an email from my gf (infectious disease specialist at major LA hospital) "Influenza is a killer virus. And the way things are going, this year will be the worst I've seen in my career," said Dr. Greg Poland, 48, </TD></TR></TABLE>
j0ur gf is Greg Poland? 
j0ur gf is Greg Poland?
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Hickory Hills, IL, USA
Re: OT: Get your flu shots asap!!! (RealTypeR)
I'm pretty sure they say stuff like this every year about how horrible the flu is going to be, all the 90 year old people who were due to die anyway that got it, blah blah blah.
...But never the less, I'm immunized
...But never the less, I'm immunized
Thread Starter
I shoot brides
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From: Catalina Island
Re: OT: Get your flu shots asap!!! (RealTypeR)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RealTypeR »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
j0ur gf is Greg Poland? </TD></TR></TABLE>
j0ur gf is Greg Poland?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
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From: The Angry Hand
Re: OT: Get your flu shots asap!!! (Tweakmeister)
-you only get stronger from what does not kill you!
- I never got a flu shot, and really only get sick every other year so I will try and see if i can make it again!!
-nate (live in a dirty as hell Fraternity house and not sick yet!!
)
- I never got a flu shot, and really only get sick every other year so I will try and see if i can make it again!!
-nate (live in a dirty as hell Fraternity house and not sick yet!!
)
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From: Brooklyn, NY
Re: OT: Get your flu shots asap!!! (Big Phat R)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Big Phat R »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><FONT SIZE="3">BEST DEFENSE: WASH YOUR HANDS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
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From: Siege Perilous
Re: OT: Get your flu shots asap!!! (zygspeed)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Didn't the currently available vaccine mix miss/not include the strain that's causing most of the problem(s)? </TD></TR></TABLE>
Ed, that's exactly right.
They misjudged what strain would hit North America this year.
The flu shot will provide some protection, but nowhere near the protection that flu shots provided last year.
You guys all shake hands too much. It might be a good idea not to do so much of that for the next few months.
Ed, that's exactly right.
They misjudged what strain would hit North America this year.
The flu shot will provide some protection, but nowhere near the protection that flu shots provided last year.
You guys all shake hands too much. It might be a good idea not to do so much of that for the next few months.
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Re: OT: Get your flu shots asap!!! (Eluder200K)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eluder200K »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Everybody just needs to sit inside and go on honda-tech 24/7, then you won't have to worry about getting sick </TD></TR></TABLE>
That, and have someone to play with while it snows this weekend in the Mid-Atlantic.
When's that DVD gonna be done? (just kidding, no hurry ... perfection takes time
)
</TD></TR></TABLE>That, and have someone to play with while it snows this weekend in the Mid-Atlantic.
When's that DVD gonna be done? (just kidding, no hurry ... perfection takes time
)
