March 29, 2024

Every once in a while I feel like actually blogging something medical.
CDC – Influenza (Flu) | Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update 52, 2004-2005 Season

Synopsis:
During week 52 (December 26, 2004-January 1, 2005)*, influenza activity continued to increase mostly in the eastern United States. Three hundred nineteen (12.1%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories were positive for influenza viruses. Fifty percent of all isolates this season have been reported from the Mid-Atlantic and New England surveillance regions**. The proportion of patient visits to sentinel providers for influenza-like illness (ILI) is above the national baseline. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza is below the national baseline. New York, Vermont, and New York City reported widespread influenza activity, 12 states reported regional influenza activity, and 13 states and the District of Columbia reported local activity. Twenty-two states reported sporadic influenza activity and 1 state did not report.

CDC Flu Week 52, 2004

emphasis mine

Also, it’s nearly all type A flu, with 82% being type A.

Still not too late to get your flu shot.

2 thoughts on “Flu and You 2, 2004-05

  1. I would if I could, but I can’t, so I won’t.

    However, I sure would appreciate it if all those around me would get it so that they would protect me!!!
    They’ve always given my kids flu shots, but this year wouldn’t do it. They said that because of the shortage, unless there was a baby, or elderly, or organ transplant patient, or cancer patient in the house ..they couldn’t give it to them.

    I could not convince the triage nurse that the reason the organ transplant patient was there wasn’t to protect the organ, but because of the medications that they take to suppress the immune system. So the family members need to take it to protect them.
    And since I’m taking 3000 mgs of Cellcept and 5 mgs of Prednisone, which is the same drugs they take … that my kids need the shot for the same reason. She wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t give an appointment and wouldn’t pass on the message.

    That’s the draw back of being in a large clinic that is also a medical school/resident program. My KIDS get excellent care, but the logic of protecting me got lost on this person, that if we were with a regular family doc, or pediatrician, it’d not have gotten past them. AND you don’t get an appointment without going through triage nurse, AND if you ever say you want it for one thing, but really use it for another they consider that fraudulent and will kick you out of the clinic.

    My kids have to pick THIS winter to be healthy and not need to go to doc for something where I could bring it up LOL figures.

  2. Hey, I heard that Chiron’s flue vaccine “Fluad” now being imported from Europe has adjuvant “squalene?”

    I heard somewhere that squalene is what’s causing all the concern with the DOD’s anthrax vaccine.

    Anyone know anything about this?

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