Is Influenza going around where you live?

[sjh722]

Jan 10, 2013 11:23:40 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Jan 10, 2013 10:52:44 GMT -5 emjacobs said:

From what I've heard and witnessed it doesn't really matter this year if you had the flu shot or not. My coworker and 3 of her kids all had the flu shot and have all gotten the flu. My aunt works at the pharmacy at the hospital and she says that the flu that is going around is a mutated strain that isn't covered by the flu shot, or doesn't care about the flu shot (I'm not 100% sure how that works).

So don't assume you are in the clear because you got the flu shot, take some extra vitamin c, sanitize after being in public places, etc.

This is not true. There are two strains of the flu going around. The shot covers Flu A perfectly. It was spot on. There is a second flu (Flu B) going around that they didn't anticipate so it is not covered by the flu shot. I'm not sure which strain of the flu is resulting in all the hospitalizations or whether it's a combination of them, but people who got (or get) their flu shot this year are in MUCH better shape than people who didn't. You've almost completely eliminated one of the strains as an issue.

ETA: I just went to the CDC page. Flu A is much more prevalent than flu B, although flu B seems to have a greater mortality rate - though that's probably related more to people not having antibodies against it than to it being some kind of more virulent strain. Anyway, point being: get your flu shot. It will help. A lot.

www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/summary.htm

:Y: :Y:

[fluffycookie]

Yes. We're outside of Boston. It's currently going thru my office and my circle of friends and each of the people currently infected had the flu shot. I am not going to lie, I am nervous about it because my four year old has an immune disorder and has no immunity to pneumonia or respitory infections and when he gets sick he gets really sick with high fevers and trouble breathing. He started receiving infusions last month to help build up the missing antibodies, but it takes 3-4 months to build them up. If anymore kids test positive for the flu at daycare his doctors want him pulled until it starts to pass. As of right now we're all washing our hands a ton, drinking extra OJ, getting lots of rest and staying out of crowded places, (malls, playspaces, and the doctor's office if possible, etc.)

[emoflamingo]

I'm not sure, honestly, but I heard about it on the radio this morning on my drive to work. I am a little more concerned with the respiratory things because my kids always seem to catch those. Bronchitis, RSV.. I still don't know what Baby W has right now, but he has a nebulizer now to use. I need to just call his doctor's office to ask them what they told my H because he said the doctor mentioned RSV but didn't say for sure he had it, but that they didn't do any tests and gave him a breathing treatment, a nebulizer and a script.

[dexteroni]

I saw a national news report that said 41 of the 50 states are reporting wider than normal and earlier than normal flu outbreak. The west coast had a lesser occurrence, but it was widespread in practically every other state.

[roselis]

Both A and I had it over the holidays.

[pickle123]

There's 25% of my school absent with fever or flu. 6 in my class of 20.

[OG Jo]

I shouldn't have posted earlier on this thread. My son has it now, a ridiculously high fever. He woke up several times last night screaming from fevered bad dreams. We took him to the doctor yesterday who said it was too late to give him anything and we just had to wait it out.