It's getting better, bit by bit. But better is relative. With the huge wave of flu that hit the USA this year, the decrease in numbers leaves us still well above the epidemic thresholds for deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza, and with 9 more children dying this past week. Our hospital beds still have... Continue Reading →
Flu Update- Yeah, I’m Sick of it, Too (no pun intended). But, Don’t Let Your Guard Down Yet…
The flu cases have come way down in the last couple of weeks. And that is great news! What's NOT so great is that the flu is no longer the fear-rocket that it was, so the media isn't really headlining much about it anymore. There are more glamorous, sexy stories for them to attract viewers.... Continue Reading →
The Flu Epidemic Update… and What About Adenovirus?
Yup- the CDC upgraded the flu season in the US to epidemic. Where are the numbers? Another 10 pediatric deaths this past week, bringing to total to 63 during the season, ~1 out of every 2000 people are being hospitalized due to flu-like illness, and 1 of every 10 US deaths this past week were... Continue Reading →
RSV- How is it different than the Flu?
If your like many folks, the big focus in winter respiratory illness is the flu and you haven't heard of RSV. Or recently, ,you've started to hear about some folks coming down with RSV or being hospitalized from it. Flu is a really big hitter, especially this year, and gets the media coverage because it's... Continue Reading →
The Flu- Many ER’s Are Full and Reports of Tamiflu Shortages. What Now?
I normally don't like to raise the red flag of fear and listen the the hysteria of the mass media who promote almost every year as a possible pandemic flu to get more viewers. But with many of the ER's in my own town overflowing with patients, including some that are on 'bypass' (meaning the... Continue Reading →