Doc Com

Thanks for the comments.

The issue, I repeat, is this is still prevalent and still a concern because this is not flu season.

Everything that people are describing are normal death rates from normal flu during normal flu season.

Nothing about this is normal.

It is a mutated virus that has passed from animal to human, again not the normal flu bug.

Fortunately in my immediate area there has not been deaths. Meanwhile, the confirmed cases in North Carolina are climbing, not decreasing.

Just read this on msnbc.com

Continued spread signals ‘something different’ happening with new strain

WASHINGTON - America's count of swine flu cases has risen to 21,449 cases and the number of deaths have nearly doubled to 87.

The continued spread signals the new strain of H1N1 flu is causing “something different” to happen in the United States this year — perhaps an extended year-round flu season that disproportionately hits young people, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The latest numbers, released Friday by the CDC is a jump from last week's count of 18,000 cases and 44 deaths.

continuing-

Summer of flu
"The United States will likely continue to see influenza activity through the summer, and at this point we're anticipating that we will see the novel H1N1 continue with activity probably all the way into our flu season in the fall and winter. The amount of activity we expect to be low, and then pick up later."

One worrying pattern: health care workers are being infected, and most reported they did little or nothing to protect themselves, the CDC's Dr. Mike Bell said.

Again, this is why I wanted to state earlier that you have the right to ask the health care worker to wash their hands before touching you. Health care workers carry germs, viruses, and disease and can spread it to you - surprise!

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