Flu activity in the U.S.

[Contrary1]

The spread of flu makes no sense to me. Look at Nebraska, the flu is considered regional there, with 3 reported deaths from H1N1. And yet, they are completely surrounded by states with sporadic reports.



Interactive map: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30435064/ns/health-swine_flu

[joeycola]

1. over 100 4 H members got sent home yesterday with 4 testing positive

for swine flu. Head on the news last evening--at the State Fair.

[Horse with no Name]

2. The surrounding states should catch up next week

There was obviously a vector in Nebraska--most likely someone who travels--and with the incubation period, it will take a little time to reach the outer limits of the state into the bordering states. The other thing is, the population at the borders of the bordering states most likely isn't going to be huge.

[Horse with no Name]

3. But look at Alaska.

:scared:

[CoffeeCat]

8. I can't speak for all of the states that border Nebraska...

...but at the Nebraska/Iowa border, there are very large population centers. Probably the largest
population center in Nebraska is right there on the Iowa border.

Omaha, Nebraska's largest city, is right on the Iowa border, and Council Bluffs (one of Iowa's biggest cities) is just a few
miles from Omaha. The two cities are almost conjoined. High population concentration.

Farther north, along the Iowa border is Sioux City--a larger city which is also near the Nebraska border.

Also, Omaha/Council Bluffs is right on Interstate 80--which runs right through Des Moines, Iowa. Omaha is only two hours
from Des Moines, Iowa--which is Iowa's largest city with about 600,000 people.

I would guess that if the flu is that bad in Nebraska--it won't be long before it's bad in Iowa as well.

That is...if everything is (ahem) normal. ;-)

[emilyg]

4. Emory U in Ga. hit hard.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Someone flew to a state or country that has been harder hit, then back home and spread it there?

I think we will see all of the map darken over time.

[Javaman]

6. Looks like the north washes their hands more. whatever. flame me. nt

[Horse with no Name]

7. I highly doubt it

But I am curious about your reasoning?
Did I miss the story earlier this year about the horrible outbreak of H1N1 flu in Canada--cause I swear all I heard was the one in Mexico.
Looks to me like the Southern border is hit harder because the virus was already down here.
Makes more sense to me than hand washing.

[Javaman]

9. Look at the map and you can see a pretty good line of demarcation between

north and south as far as cases.

BTW: I live in Texas

[Lyric]

10. Well they're wrong about WV.

We've had plenty of confirmed cases of H1N1 here--two at my university just confirmed this week. But that chart says "No Activity."