Posted on 01/27/2018 8:35:55 PM PST by blam
We all know that this year’s flu season is bad. I have been pouring over numbers and reports over the past few days, and it’s actually even worse than we’re hearing about. Tens of thousands of Americans are dying. It’s now worse than the 2009 swine flu outbreak and is on track with the 2014-15 strain. And it’s not showing any signs of slowing down.
Despite this, the media is downplaying the severity of the flu and the government makes the statistics pretty difficult to find. Are they trying to avoid a panic? Do they know something we don’t?
Here’s what you need to know about why this year’s flu is so dangerous.
This Year’s Flu Strain Is More Deadly
The dominant Influenza strain this year is H3N2. This particular strain has a history of causing more hospitalizations and more deaths. According to the CDC:
In the past, H3N2-predominant seasons have been associated with more severe illness and higher mortality, especially in older people and young children, relative to H1N1- or B-predominant seasons. Between 1976 and 2007, for example, CDC estimates that an average of 28,909 people died from flu during H3N2 seasons, compared to 10,648 people during non-H3N2 predominant years.
That’s a difference of 18,261 adults each year. And that’s in a good year.
In addition to H3N2 producing a more serious infection in general, this year’s particular H3N2 influenza virus is particularly virulent. The number of deaths due to influenza or complications to the flu, such as pneumonia (a secondary bacterial infection following influenza), varies from year to year.
An August 27, 2010 MMWR report entitled “Thompson MG et al. Updated Estimates of Mortality Associated with Seasonal Influenza through the 2006-2007 Influenza Season. MMWR 2010; 59(33): 1057-1062.,” provided estimates of the range of flu-associated deaths
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at theburningplatform.com ...
It doesn’t seem to have peaked yet - that’s a bad sign.
Yeah, maybe. But the Emergency Department I spent all evening in/around had very few admissions for anything and the waiting room typically had only 1-2 people sitting there (southeastern WA).
I hate to see when FR goes into tin foil hat crazy stuff like this. What king of idiots even comes up with conspiracy crap like this anyway.
LOL! I hope we all ‘party HARDY’ ;-)
I didn’t get the shot this year; in years past, I’ve felt like crap for several months after taking it - even though they seem to say that it’s my ‘imagination’. One year I apparently got the ‘flu anyway, so at 30 per cent coverage, and the various strains going around, what use is it, any more than good health habits are?
Due to the illness of a relative, I’ve spent a lot of time in hospitals/nursing homes over the past month; I figure if I’m going to get it, I’ve been exposed by now.
BFL
“Despite this, the media is downplaying the severity of the flu”
This type of article is ridiculous. Nearly every single day one of the main headlines is how bad this flu outbreak has been and that it is one of the worst in many years, etc. and this article acts like this fact is being “downplayed.” Really? It being widely reported on a daily basis as one of the deadliest and widespread outbreaks in recent years is “downplaying” it?
True, but kind of misleading...if 10% fewer people were contracting and then transmitting it, that can significantly reduces the number of additional infections.
And apparently the infection is less severe to those who get the vaccine who don’t get fully immune to it from the vaccine.
Anyone dying of the flu is almost certainly deficient in vitamin d. Some say vitamin d deficiency is an actual CAUSE of the flu.
One must enter flu season with blood levels of at least 60. 70-90 if you are Immune deficient or fighting other illnesses.
To get there, you should get a blood test and add supplemental d3 daily until you reach that level. To save $ and time on testing and such, right now start taking a solid decent brand at a health food store (not cvs or some other cheap source) of at least 5000 IU of vitamin D3 daily. You might still be exposed and you might even still get the flu. But your risk of a bad, deadly case just dropped nearly to zero once you’ve gotten enough D3 into your system. It’s cumulative and could take a few weeks.
Some recent studies at that link.
Oh, and by the way, here is how to supplement d in tiny, even newborn babies. Place one drop of baby vitamin D3 at 1000 IU/drop (at any good health food store or amazon) on the nipple (of mom or a bottle) and baby will ingest. Do this once a day if baby is healthy. If baby is teething or under the weather, do this twice a day to get 2000 IU into him. There is no excuse for grandma or new baby to be vitamin D3 deficient.
H3N2 doesn't culture well on egg medium (You can look it up if you want the exact reason) the virus that grows on egg doesn't express the right markers for our immune system to pick up or expresses them in a diminished way. So even when they include it in the vaccine (which they didn't this year) the immunity is much less than for other strains.
The newer Flublok (tm) vaccine is a recombinant vaccine and the quadrivalent form has the H3N2 in it. The problem is it is only available in select Pharmacies and you have to specifically ask for it. You also have to pay for it. Up to $250 in some cases depending on insurance. There was also a recent NEJM article (recent as in the last 3 months) that indicates the vaccine provides better protection in general than the regular vaccine (don't quote me on this it's been a while since I read the article). I believe they looked at groups getting each vaccine and less people in the new vaccine group had a vaccine failure than those in the old group. If anyone is that interested in it email me and I will find the article and post a link.
Smart, Agnes. Glad you’re better.
I understand the Government is only reporting deaths for people under 65. They assume there will be plenty of over 65 deaths just because of age and health issues. Seems that alone would downplay the panic factor.
My elderly father is due for an annual check up but I’m putting it off until at least March.
This was real punch-in-the-face flu. I had it and it wasted me. Took weeks to really get over it. Very debilitating.
My understanding is that it’s causing a severe cough which results in bronchial bleeding resulting is sepsis occurring.
Rapidly fatal.
Sambucus is a very effective natural way to fight viral replication in the body. Also very tasty, expensive and sold out everywhere.
Excellent catch! Thank you Black Agnes!
I'm calling this fake news.. a set up for a false flag chaos or legislative takeover for some globalist agenda.. the flu like every year claims lives , its bad but why lie about it ?
Some years they miss completely, but it's OK, there are no more deaths those years anyway.
I'm sure I got it from a patient who the flue and was coughing constantly...wore a mask and gloves, however...
I just work in one little hospital but we've not had a single death..most of our flu patients are middle age and up with history of smoking and COPD...
Here in MI we had a pretty decent weather day today(sun/50's)but noticed not too many were out and about.
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