Comments on: Why has this flu season been so mild? http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 11:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: GawainLavers http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363842 GawainLavers Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363842 I've  been on my ass since last Thursday with the worst flu I've had since mono.  And I had the stupid shot!  Screw data, eat my anecdote! I’ve  been on my ass since last Thursday with the worst flu I’ve had since mono.  And I had the stupid shot!  Screw data, eat my anecdote!

]]> By: christopherdrew http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363698 christopherdrew Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363698 Kinda find this curious; I live in Calgary, and pretty much everyone I know has had the flu at one point or another this season. I caught it back in November, and keep having these mini-relapses, and from comparing stories, it seems to be the same for everyone else, as well. Currently, out of twenty staff at the cafe I work at, there are nine people either trying to kick this thing or just starting to come down with it. Kinda find this curious; I live in Calgary, and pretty much everyone I know has had the flu at one point or another this season. I caught it back in November, and keep having these mini-relapses, and from comparing stories, it seems to be the same for everyone else, as well. Currently, out of twenty staff at the cafe I work at, there are nine people either trying to kick this thing or just starting to come down with it.

]]> By: penguinchris http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363580 penguinchris Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363580  I rarely normally get sick either (I had the dubious honor along with two others in my graduating class of having perfect attendance all four years of high school), but got several colds last Fall and this winter. All relatively mild, but even something mild is way more than I usually get. I don't think I had any flu or anything though.  I rarely normally get sick either (I had the dubious honor along with two others in my graduating class of having perfect attendance all four years of high school), but got several colds last Fall and this winter. All relatively mild, but even something mild is way more than I usually get. I don’t think I had any flu or anything though.

]]> By: Rachel Banzhaf http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363554 Rachel Banzhaf Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363554 For some reason everyone seems to be getting stomach virus instead. I've never gotten that stomach-sick before in my life. My MOM's never been that stomach-sick before! I found an article saying instances of stomach virus are up 30% this year in Virginia but not everywhere keeps records consistently so I couldn't find good numbers on it. For some reason everyone seems to be getting stomach virus instead. I’ve never gotten that stomach-sick before in my life. My MOM’s never been that stomach-sick before! I found an article saying instances of stomach virus are up 30% this year in Virginia but not everywhere keeps records consistently so I couldn’t find good numbers on it.

]]> By: freshacconci http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363522 freshacconci Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363522 I normally don't get sick other than very mild colds. This year I was out for several days with the flu. Don't know what that means. Maybe I'm on a different cycle than most people. I'd feel special but I was miserable. I normally don’t get sick other than very mild colds. This year I was out for several days with the flu. Don’t know what that means. Maybe I’m on a different cycle than most people. I’d feel special but I was miserable.

]]> By: m http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363328 m Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363328 The CDC reported that the flu is just late this year. http://www.wbez.org/blog/clever-apes/2012-02-29/clever-apes-what-flu-96851  The CDC reported that the flu is just late this year.
http://www.wbez.org/blog/clever-apes/2012-02-29/clever-apes-what-flu-96851 

]]> By: ToMajorTom http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363288 ToMajorTom Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363288  Rick, yuck!  I'm no doctor, but I think influenza and stomach "flu" are unrelated.  (In fact I think the stomach business isn't considered a flu at all.)  Seems like influenza is typically defined as something respiratory.  Again...what do I know?  Check The Weather Channel.  They seem to know a lot.  Rick, yuck!  I’m no doctor, but I think influenza and stomach “flu” are unrelated.  (In fact I think the stomach business isn’t considered a flu at all.)  Seems like influenza is typically defined as something respiratory.  Again…what do I know?  Check The Weather Channel.  They seem to know a lot.

]]> By: BookGuy http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363284 BookGuy Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363284  I got a norovirus and February and ended up hospitalized because of blood coming out of places it shouldn't.  While there, the staff explained that the stomach flu/norovirus that was pounding me and many others was not at all the same thing as the infuenza virus.  I got a norovirus and February and ended up hospitalized because of blood coming out of places it shouldn’t.  While there, the staff explained that the stomach flu/norovirus that was pounding me and many others was not at all the same thing as the infuenza virus.

]]> By: ToMajorTom http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363274 ToMajorTom Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363274 After I read this, I happened to go to The Weather Channel's web site, and the big headline there is Flu Forces Schools to Close. In the related article, the writer states: "A few weeks ago we told you we were experiencing the slowest start to flu season in three decades, according to government officials. Now, as spring allergy and severe weather season begin, we're seeing widespread flu outbreaks from coast to coast!" Naturally, I go to The Weather Channel for all my medical / health info.  After I read this, I happened to go to The Weather Channel’s web site, and the big headline there is Flu Forces Schools to Close.

In the related article, the writer states: “A few weeks ago we told you we were experiencing the slowest start to flu season in three decades, according to government officials. Now, as spring allergy and severe weather season begin, we’re seeing widespread flu outbreaks from coast to coast!”

Naturally, I go to The Weather Channel for all my medical / health info. 

]]> By: Rick Adams http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363273 Rick Adams Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363273 Mild my ass, I've never been sicker than I was with the stomach flu two weeks ago. I felt like someone hit me with a truck. And I never get sick. Mild my ass, I’ve never been sicker than I was with the stomach flu two weeks ago. I felt like someone hit me with a truck. And I never get sick.

]]> By: Cocomaan http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363209 Cocomaan Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363209 I've heard (too lazy to find source) that cold, dry winter weather makes water droplets that you might, say, sneeze out, travel further, because in warm wet weather, they'd tend to fall faster. Could be bogus, but it would explain the trend here. I’ve heard (too lazy to find source) that cold, dry winter weather makes water droplets that you might, say, sneeze out, travel further, because in warm wet weather, they’d tend to fall faster. Could be bogus, but it would explain the trend here.

]]> By: Paul Renault http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/why-has-this-flu-season-been-s.html#comment-1363204 Paul Renault Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=147523#comment-1363204 Normal fluctation in the flu rate? More people taking vitamin D3, as per Health Canada's recommendations? Milder Winter, so less time for accumulation of virii and bacteria in the snow?  (Spring is the flu/cold season.) Milder Winter, so folks' immune system less depressed? The meltdown at Fujushima killed a lot of the virii? Normal fluctation in the flu rate?
More people taking vitamin D3, as per Health Canada’s recommendations?
Milder Winter, so less time for accumulation of virii and bacteria in the snow?  (Spring is the flu/cold season.)
Milder Winter, so folks’ immune system less depressed?
The meltdown at Fujushima killed a lot of the virii?

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