[Born Conservative]

People are in a panic over the flu, and the major media outlets are not helping the situation at all. On Good Morning America today, they started out the broadcast announcing that another child died of flu (I promptly changed channels at that point).

I work in a large pediatric clinic (100+ patients/day), and we are bombarded with people asking for flu shots; we are down to our last 4-5 vials, so we will run out probably by tomorrow (we did 60+ flu shots yesterday alone). We all just wonder where these people that are asking for the flu shot were 2 months ago when we started to give the vaccine; obviously, media influence is a big factor here.

The reason I posted this is to illustrate the amount of panic that can be generated by the media. Every year, there is a flu outbreak, and every year there are deaths from flu. Granted, this flu season may be more widespread, but most of us survived previous flu seasons, and most of us will survive this season and future flu outbreaks.

[b4its2late]

The reason I posted this is to illustrate the amount of panic that can be generated by the media.

Exactly. And who do you think is going to tap into this "resource" to cause panic next?

[b4its2late]

Well, other than the democrats that is....... an it might not be next, but sometime in the near future....

[Sender]

OK, I'm putting on my tinfoil for a moment...if a 'normal' flu season has 36,000 deaths, and this flu season looks to be much worse and much earlier than usual...just as al Qaeda claims they expect 100,000 deaths and we will be 'amazed how they did it'...it kinda makes one wonder, could this be an 'engineered' virus?

/tinfoil off

[maestro]

France's bio-tech vaccine monopoly?..........Flu Spreads to All 50 States .......

naw....

at least it won't affect Texas in any way!

/sarscasm

[gdani]

The reason I posted this is to illustrate the amount of panic that can be generated by the media

I think some intensive research needs to be done into what kind of role those darn sharks from 2 summers ago & those child abductors from last summer have in this latest flu stuff.....

[riri]

but 24 states have already been hit hard and at least 11 people have died in the outbreak....Nearly a dozen children in Colorado have died from the flu

Does anybody edit this stuff? Come on...

[riri]

The reason I posted this is to illustrate the amount of panic that can be generated by the media. Every year, there is a flu outbreak, and every year there are deaths from flu

well, it looks like this year we have started counting them, all 35,000 plus, one by one by one...

[Labyrinthos]

The reason I posted this is to illustrate the amount of panic that can be generated by the media. Every year, there is a flu outbreak, and every year there are deaths from flu. Granted, this flu season may be more widespread, but most of us survived previous flu seasons, and most of us will survive this season and future flu outbreaks.

The media also hyped SARS as the next great plague even though it effected and killed far fewer people than the common flu in even a mild flu season.

BTW, Little Chuckie Schummer wants the Feds to regulate and take over the distribution of flu shoots. Although the private sector seems to have miscalculated the number of doses needed this year, does anyone know the supply/demand ratio in past years?

[Severa]

I got my flu shot from the nearby branch medical clinic the week it became available...fat lot of good it did me. I can't remember the last time the flu hit me this hard. My oldest son (6 yrs old) is almost completely over it but my youngest son (4 yrs old) is still miserable like me.

[cpst12]

I don't see the need for a panic....if in a normal year 36000 people die from the flu, and lets assume flu season is six months (I bet its shorter than that), 200+ people would need to die every day just to have an "average" year...so far 11 have died, sad indeed anytime anyone dies prematurely (especially children), but why is the prpjected to be worse than usual?

[DBrow]

I agree with you, B C. The flu this year is not noticably worse than in other years, and the actual average mortality is quite a bit higher than the 36,000 mantra.

The media will gleefully report each influenza death, with a bio of the victim and deep analysis of "what went wrong" with our antiquated, privately run vaccine setup in the US.

As we approach and exceed the 36,000 number, the pitch may increase. Last year we were closer to 50,000 deaths and the year before was about 60,000.

I see no evil intent on the media's part, this is how they get and keep media share.

On the other hand, this mentality is exactly how a "dirty bomb" becomes a terror weapon. If a reporter states that a couple of acres have been contaminated to "about the level of six gas lantern mantles", it is different from panicy reports of "unprecedented contamination of the soil, about 36 disintegrations per minute per square meter, cleanup could take millions of dollars. Some of the contamination is believed to be (shudder) alpha rays..."

[anymouse]

I'm shocked that during the cold, damp Winter time that at least one person in every state has caught the flu. Anyone that has flown in an airliner knows that one careless sick person can give their case of the flu to the bulk of the other passengers and crew. Every state has an airport that connects with another state. It is not surprising that the flu is spread widely. What is surprising is that it isn't spread faster.

[Timesink]

Note the media BS:

Some experts predict this flu season's death toll could easily surpass the average annual 36,000 deaths from the virus.

Okay. Divide 36,000 by 365. That's 98.6 (heh heh) deaths per day.

...at least 11 people have died in the outbreak...

Hmm. Eleven people in the entire outbreak, when in a "normal" year we should already have had hundreds. Why the major discrepancy?

Someone's spinning hyperbole to scare people. Wanna bet it's the news media?

[CathyRyan]

Date Wed 10 Dec 2003
From: Marianne Hopp
Source:World Heath Organisation (WHO), CSR, Disease Outbreak report, Wed 10
Dec 2002 [edited]
Northern Hemisphere: Influenza Epidemic Spreads to More Countries - WHO Update 3
---------------------------------------------------
Significant increases in influenza activity associated with influenza A(H3N2) viruses continue in some countries in Europe (Finland, France, and Norway) and North America (United States); in other European countries (Portugal and Spain), widespread influenza A(H3N2) activity persists. In some parts of Canada and United Kingdom (UK), where influenza activity was first noted this season, the number of cases has started to decline, although it is too early to predict the trend.

A rising trend has also been observed in a number of European countries (Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Latvia, Russian Federation, and Switzerland), although influenza activity remains low at present.

Influenza B viruses are most frequently reported from Asia (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, Republic of Korea, and Thailand); sporadic cases have been detected in Europe and North America. With the exception of an outbreak in Iceland between weeks 41 and 46, very few influenza A(H1) cases have been reported worldwide.

This season, most influenza outbreaks are being attributed to influenza A(H3N2) virus, and most viruses antigenically characterized so far have been confirmed to be A/Fujian/411/2002-like, with the rest being A/Panama/2007/99-like.

Austria (29 Nov 2003)
---------------------
Influenza A virus was first detected in week 48.

Canada (29 Nov 2003)
--------------------
During week 48, influenza activity declined in Alberta and Saskatchewan but increased in other parts of Canada, particularly British Columbia, Ontario, and Nunavut. Influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was 42 cases per 1000 consultations, which is above the national baseline level for week 48. During the same week, 18 percent of 2567 laboratory tests were positive for influenza A and no influenza B virus was detected. Of the 155 influenza viruses antigenically characterized by the National Microbiology Laboratory to date, 128 (83 percent) are A/Fujian/411/2002-like, 25 (16 percent) are A/Panama/2007/99-like and one is an A/New Caledonia/20/99-like virus.

Denmark (29 Nov 2003)
---------------------
ILI activity started to increase in week 47. In week 48, the ILI consultation rate was above the national baseline, with one influenza A/Fujian/411/2002-like virus detected.

Finland (6 Dec 2003)
--------------------
Increased influenza activity has been observed since week 47. During week 49, influenza activity was widespread, with 30 influenza A viruses detected.

France (29 Nov 2003)
--------------------
Increased influenza activity has been observed. In week 48, regional activity of influenza A/Fujian/411/2002-like viruses was reported in 13 regions.

Morocco (22 Nov 2003)
---------------------
So far this season, influenza activity has remained low, with one influenza A(H1N1) and one A(H3N2) virus detected.

Norway (29 Nov 2003)
--------------------
Influenza activity continued to increase. In week 48, widespread activity of influenza A(H3N2) was reported throughout the country. All of the 21 A(H3N2) viruses antigenically characterized so far are A/Fujian/411/2002-like.

Portugal (29 Nov 2003)
---------------------
In week 48, influenza A(H3N2) activity was reported as widespread for the 3rd consecutive week. All influenza viruses antigenically characterized so far this season are A/Fujian/411/2002-like.

Republic of Korea (29 Nov 2003
) ------------------------------
The first influenza viruses for the season two influenza B viruses were detected in week 48.

Russian Federation (29 Nov 2002)
--------------------------------
The ILI incidence rate continued to rise in week 48 and exceeded the epidemic threshold in Moscow and St Petersburg. All 3 influenza virus subtypes A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B were detected. During the same week, 5 influenza A(H3N2) viruses were antigenically characterized and confirmed as A/Panama/2007/99-like.

Spain (29 Nov 2003)
-------------------
Influenza activity continued to be widespread during week 48. However, ILI incidence rate slowed down in the Castilla y Leon autonomic community.

Switzerland (29 Nov 2003)
------------------------
Increased influenza activity was observed in week 48, particularly in the western part of the country where 9 influenza A viruses were detected.

United Kingdom (29 Nov 2003)
----------------------------
Influenza activity appears to have levelled off but the trend remains unclear. In week 48, ILI consultation rate remained almost the same as in week 47 in England, continued to decrease in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and kept rising in Wales (although it remained below the baseline level). During week 48, 44 influenza A(H3) viruses and one B virus were detected. Of the viruses antigenically characterized so far, 35 have been confirmed as A/Fujian/411/2002-like and 3 as A/Panama/2007/99-like.

United States (29 Nov 2003)
---------------------------
Influenza activity continued to increase during week 48. Overall ILI consultation rate was 5.1 percent, which is above the national baseline of 2.5 percent. Widespread influenza activity was reported in 13 states and regional activity was reported in 16 states during week 48; 39.1 percent of the specimens tested were positive for influenza with 1302 influenza A viruses and 7 B viruses identified. Since week 40, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta have antigenically characterized 157 influenza A(H3N2) viruses, of which 45 (29 percent) are A/Panama/2007/99-like and 112 (71 percent) are A/Fujian/411/2002-like.

Other reports
-------------
Low influenza activity was reported in Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Italy, Thailand, and Ukraine. No influenza activity was reported in Croatia, Iceland, Japan, or Poland.

[Crazieman]

I'd say the flu's pretty nasty. I caught the stupid thing too. Fever was so high it nearly sent me to the hospital.

[finnman69]

How soon before RATS blame Bush for not preparing the nation for the flu?

[Semper Paratus]

Assuming the numbers then 50,000 divided by flu season of 4 months = 12,500 a month = over 400 per day.

If this was SARS (which was only the hundreds this year) the whole country would be paralyzed.

[PleaseNoMore]

An otherwise healthy, not at risk little boy in the county next to me died Saturday from complications of the flu. It was the first death due to the flu here in NC that I have heard about. I just got home from the doctor's office with my three boys. They all tested positive for the flu. I am not in a panic but I am concerned. My 17 yo seems especially hard hit.

[mewzilla]

I was in a big box department store with an elderly parent today, and what did I see? Sick clerks wheezing and sneezing. One was told by another clerk to lick his fingers to open the plastic bags because he was having trouble opening them. I told the clerk in question not to bother if he wanted me to actually buy the stuff in our cart (I advised my relative to wait out in the car since the line was long). Just more reason I guess why so many of the elderly I know avoid these places like the plague (pardon the pun).

[KC_Conspirator]

How long does this flu last? I caught it about a little over 48 hours ago and its making me miserable. This just 3-4 after I had my flu shot.