CDC: Flu season worst in 4 years; vaccine didn't work well

[flashl]

ATLANTA (AP) -- This year's flu season has shaped up to be the worst in four years, partly because the vaccine didn't work well against the viruses that made most people sick, health officials said Thursday.

The 2007-2008 season started slowly, peaked in mid-February and seems to be declining, although cases are still being reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Based on adult deaths from flu and pneumonia, this season is the worst since 2003-2004 -- another time when the vaccine did not include the exact flu strain responsible for most illnesses.

...

The CDC compares flu season by looking at adult deaths from the flu or pneumonia in 122 cities. This year, those deaths peaked at 9 percent of all reported deaths in early March, and remained above an epidemic threshold for 13 consecutive weeks. In 2003-2004, they peaked at more than 10 percent of all deaths, and surpassed the epidemic threshold for nine weeks.

NY Times

[sandnsea]

1. An epidemic, you'd think it would be on the news

DURING the epidemic. What the hell good is any of this information if they don't tell anybody because they're afraid of a panic.

There's something going around my town, literally everybody has had it, babies have gotten pneumonia including my granddaughter - and there isn't a word about what the hell it is anywhere.

This is just absurd.

[glowing]

2. Heaven forbid they actually tell us what is floating through our air,

water, and food.. They only tell us what the Govt allows them to.

[grasswire]

8. I was really scared yesterday...

...my nephew brought his baby (16 mo) over for me to bbsit for a couple of hours. I knew the baby had been sick for a few days, but this baby looked really sick. His dad said his chest sounds like he's "purring" at night. Gah!!!!!! They haven't taken him to the doc yet. The mother (at age 24) thinks she knows it all and thinks he's not that sick. If I don't hear today that he's better, I'm going to raise hell about it. The village sometimes has to intervene.

[Donnachaidh]

9. and when the doctor's jump on ms know it all for the liquid in his lungs

that makes that purring sound, perhaps she'll actually LEARN something!

Jeez -- pneumonia can kill kids very quickly, if left not treated.

[grasswire]

10. I know, I know

Ms. know it all is working on a degree in public health. But regarding her own child, she is stubbornly ignorant. She feeds the baby LUNCHABLES for breakfast and lunch, for God's sake.

Okay, I'm going to call to see how he is today.

[sandnsea]

11. She took the baby 3 times in a week

She was just 3 weeks old when they took her by ambulance to the ped center. Two doctors here told my daughter the baby would be fine. The third decided to do a precautionary x-ray, sent my daughter home with the baby telling her she'd be fine. Well she called an hour later and ordered my daughter back to the clinic, with an ambulance waiting to transport her to the pediatric unit 60 miles away. Gads. The key for us was that the baby didn't want to eat. So tell them that fever isn't always the main signal of a serious illness.

But this article that says 10% of deaths have been from flu and pneumonia, and that's an epidemic, and then they don't TELL US - that infuriates me.

[OKthatsIT]

17. It's good you're staying alert about this.

Sometimes your head is in a fog after you've had a baby. Nowadays, with all the environmental toxins, poor food quality and hormone distruptors effecting your brain...we're all in a fog.

[tridim]

3. I've had a flu shot only once in the past 10 years

and that was the only year I got the flu.

Hmmmm..

[TomInTib]

7. Yep. I have never had one and the last time I had the flu was 1968.

I wouldn't have a flu shot for any reason.

Just more Booga-Booga, in my opinion.

Remember when Avian Flu was gonna kill us all?

And SARS?

I am looking out the door of my Gallery, at a sidewalk with a curb that I respect much more than any pandemic.

Those curbs can flat screw with you.

[depakid]

14. Better hope you don't get a nasty A-Strain

Because if you did, you'd change your tune....

[uppityperson]

4. I've been watching this map over the winter...

you can click back by week to see how it goes across usa
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. trouble is

that there are so many strains of flu it is economically impossible to make vaccines for all of them. And if they mutate--well, back to the drawing board.

I would suggest that everyone work to build up their immune systems and make sure everyone around them washes hands, sanitizes door knobs, etc, etc.

[mod mom]

6. I have a friend who just returned from the CDC and she expressed concern that

scientists there are expected a 1918 type but a quick spreading pandemic because of the hx of recent flu's. She spoke with a doctor who warned of a strict quarantine of up to 8 weeks and a high fatality rate from an upcoming pandemic. This woman is not usually one to panic but she was very moved by what she heard.

Knowing that we have an administration that might face war crimes and is not exactly happy about turning over power, my fears rose when hearing this.

[flashl]

12. Maybe the Genie is not back in the bottle from this 2005 story?

Snippet ...

A company took the deadly Spanish Flu virus and replicated it, then put it in kits that were part of an everyday influenza identification testing kit. They overnighted these kits through postal mail or courier services to over 4,000 destinations around the world in many different countries.

The research company then claimed to have "accidentally" distributed all of these samples of the deadly H2N2 influenza strain.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

19. It's not just going to be a strict quarantine.

How about all schools closed statewide for 6 to 8 weeks? I'm not much of a worrier either but we've been planning for it for 2 years now. As has every public health agency in every state. Then of all the times to guess wrong on the vaccine they do it this year. So our vaccinations next year will drop by large numbers. I really hope it doesn't hit. If it does it's going to be really bad.

David

[kestrel91316]

13. Guessing which flu strain is going to dominate the coming flu season

enough in advance to get the stuff manufactured is ALWAYS a crap shoot.

Frankly, I'm amazed they get it right as often as they do............

[trotsky]

15. Yep

Frankly, I'm amazed they get it right as often as they do.

And not a damn single news report when they do, either. It's an educated guess. It can be wrong. But the doctor-bashers will latch onto anything to hurl more invective. I've gotten the shot every year since 2000. What happened in 1999? I got a monster flu - one that WOULD have been prevented by the shot. I missed a week of work and had a 104 degree fever for two days. A hearty thank you goes out from me to the professionals who are trying to help.

[OKthatsIT]

16. The CDC is controlled by CHERTOFF

Nothing is allowed to be declared/announced to the US Public unless it is approved by the Homeland Security Dept.

Pay more attention to your own health, your friends and families health will be more telling of the truth than anything said by the CDC.

People are getting sick...all over the country. DONT take those flu vaccinations! They're dangerous and they're lying to you about the contents. Especially if your family have autoimmune problems...these vaccinations are so dangerous.

Our food supply = GMO, irradiation, industrial waste fertilizers, horrible food additives, and major depleted soil(lacking vitamins and minerals). We're eating more, but getting less nutrients. And we wonder why so many are obese?



You might do your family a huge favor and begin questioning the GOVT's SECRET AEROSOL SPRAYING PROGRAMS. The Governement is beginning to expose themselves. The 'aerosol contents' are made of Aluminum Oxide, Barium, Cadmium, Potassium, Magnesium, Thorium, and polymers which carry biologicals in the air(such as viruses, bacterias and mycoplasmas).

I need to bring this up because Aluminum Oxide going into the soil causes the plants roots to shut down. Drought stricken areas show up, but the rainfall hasn't changed.

Mycoplasmas cause all sorts of problems...esecially the classic 'flu that won't go away'. Mopst doctors don't know how to treat it. It's curable. Do your research. If you need any help, ask me. I'll send on the links.

[pinto]

18. Please don't offer medical advice on Democratic Underground. We encourage

members to seek medical advice from a known, licensed, local health care professional.

Thanks.

pinto
DU Moderator
General Discussion