Last spring, when the flu season is usually winding down, we had a "second flu season" brought to us by the novel H1N1 ("swine") flu. After school let out for the summer, the numbers declined, but not to the usual low summer rate. Now, as fall begins, flu is picking up again---fast. Pandemic swine flu is hitting our naive population fiercely.
From the CDC Red is this year
This graph clearly illustrates the high baseline during what would normally not be flu season, and the early peak which we are (hopefully) approaching.
This correlates with my own clinical experience. It's gonna be a busy season.
More like this
There are a couple of things that Im getting over and over and over, from readers/friends/family/overheard in the grocery store, and its driving me nuts.
READ THIS NPR SUMMARY
OK, they're not cities, they are states. Or cities in states. Whatever. But when it comes to flu shots they are quite different. First benighted Mississippi:
It is Influenza Season in the Northern Hemisphere. So, this is a good time to talk about the flu.
You have to move fast these days to keep up with the flu. Or outrun it.
A quick roundup from the last 24:
It seems like the seasonal flu vaccine is a bit behind the curve, seeing as they are just becoming widely available. Is it just because of the H1N1?
I'm thinking that I am not too sad to not have to interact with many people these days. That, and I got my seasonal flu vaccine.