Why all the fuss? Influenza.

bluesky, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2003

Well I have a couple of reactions to various points made by different people along the way...

LPN2B is right about the variance and mutagenic nature of the flu virus that is why the CDC has to guess what strain is *probably* going to infect each year.

About the average ER acuity... this really varies from one locale to another For example the suburban ER I work at gets a large % low acuity crap whereas the inner city ER (well one of the 2)where my husband works gets mostly *sick* people.

The media in this country is a business and like any other business it looks for the product that it will profit from... this is a no-brainer, really. While it is true that the political ideology of the owners of the particular news outlet will affect the content (fox news vs. the nation), this is also, fundamentally, BUSINESS. Same goes for the pharmaceutical companies, whose profit-seeking carelessness in the face of the suffering of millions is well documented. We all know they are (at times) willing to conceal the fatal shortcomings of their own products so that they won't lose $$$ by pulling the product off the market.

But do I beleive that Geberding and the CDC, the media and the pharmaceuticals have jointly conspired to create popular paranoia so they can fill ERs and therefore ultimately their own pockets? Nope, sorry, too far fetched for me.

The CDC website has a graph which shows the incidence curve for all the flus since 1999 (I think). The one for 2003 is very early and has already reached the maximum value of all the other years... therefore I don't feel that the claims of possible epidemics are overated at all.

Besides, even if it *is* overhyped, if one elderly person or mother of a 13 month old takes extra precautions that lead to their own safety and flu prevention with this hype, well then maybe it's all worth it whether you beleive in it or not...

Brownms46 · Dec 15, 2003

Yes by all means go to the CDC site, and discover that it IS hype, and you will SEE that the map the CDC shows, and the one the media shows siteing the states affects are totally different! So where is the media getting it's info from???

Now if the media is going to give out info, it should at least get accurate info out to the public, and not inflated info! Erroneous/hyped info should never be justified!

P&I Mortality Surveillance (2003-2004)

During the week ending December 6, P&I accounted for 7.0% of all deaths reported through the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System. The epidemic threshold** for that week was 7.6%. Since the week ending October 4, the weekly percentage of P&I deaths has been below the epidemic threshold. The percentage of P&I deaths exceeded the epidemic threshold for zero weeks during the 2002--03 influenza season, for 9 weeks during the 2001--02 season, and for 10 weeks during the 2000--01 influenza season. During the 1999--00 influenza season, the percentage of P&I deaths exceeded the epidemic threshold for 15 weeks (1; CDC, unpublished data, 2003).

healingtouchRN · Dec 15, 2003

got my shot & gave about 60 others while volunteering in employee health in october. Glad I did. I really am onthe bandwagon about educating folks in the future. I'd be willing to give them in church fellowship hall, drug store, the mall, wherever to get them given!! Ya know people would line up around the block if it was an AIDS prevention shot (woundn't they?) I would! Just curious, did your places of employment offer the flu shot or heptivax? I did the Hep series 8 years ago & glad I did. Got boost on MMR 3 times because my titers kept coming up 0! Go figure.

laurasc · Dec 15, 2003

Originally posted by passing thru
C'mon girls, cut the guy a break.

He/she is simply saying the media's response to the flu outbreak is out of proportion to the actual flu situation.

The media is hyping it...scaring people spitless....
Thousands standing in line for hours for 400 injections.....

This years' flu is no different that any other years' flu.

Out of proportion? Really? You may be right, they are not putting enough emphasis on it. Last week alone in the family practice clinic I work in we had 3 lab confirmed cases of the flu and dozens of doctors confirmed cases. Of those three confirmed cases two were under the age of 1 and one was somewhere in the 40's.

IMO the media is not scaring people spitless enough.

This year's flu is different from last year's and any other year. The dominant strain is not included in this year's vaccine and the vaccine only offer's partial cross protection.

It will be an ugly year flu-wise. Many more will die before this is over. Much more than last year.

Laura

healingtouchRN · Dec 15, 2003

luv the baby photo! my hubby has a look like this he gives me & usually gets his way when he does. :chuckle

BadBird, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2003

Wow, since you don't know what the "fuss " is about I have to wonder if you are truely a nurse. This particular flu is awful. Killing young and old alike. In the past the flu made you sick, a few people did die but most recovered after a miserable illness, but with this one too many otherwise healthy young people are dying. Now you know what the "fuss" is about.

Hate to say it, but you really posted a STUPID and CALLOUS thread.

Brownms46 · Dec 15, 2003

36.000 Americans die YEARLY during the flu season!!! YEP that a only a few people!!!!!

ShelleyERgirl, LPN · Dec 15, 2003

Originally posted by tgibson3770
Your sense of smell has seemingly been impaired. Big fat troll? Sounds like your watching too many scifi movies. Nope. Sorry to disappoint you Ms. Navynurse. By the way, cheers for those that represent the great US of A.

Hey, ya came back! Touche, and thanks for the cheers, but you might want to brush up on your cyber defs of what EXACTLY a troll is.........

passing thru · Dec 15, 2003

Lord Have Mercy.

Let me write this one more time- - - one more time.

MAYBE I will be understood. (I'm NOT holding my breath.)

(I am now taking my own sentence out of context of the post.)

"This years flu is no different than any other years' flu."

Folks, FLU (influenza) is not pneumonia, hepatitis, anemia, and a thousand other diagnoses.......

Flu is the flu....for the past hundred years influenza is influenza. EVERY YEAR it comes around,

yes, folks, every year we have the flu.

YES, every year the flu virus mutates, BUT IT IS STILL INFLUENZA.

I really think I'm talking to the wall here so I'll stop.

The original point I was trying to make it why be so judgemental about the original posters' thread. ?

Talking to the wall, passing thru, .....

some just can't read a thread without passing judgement.

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 15, 2003

ya know the old saying passing_thru:

WALLS HAVE EARS.

so your words are never in vain, rofl.:roll

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2003

Originally posted by Brownms46
36.000 Americans die YEARLY during the flu season!!! YEP that a only a few people!!!!!

http://www.disastercenter.com/traffic/State.htm

42,000 deaths in one year from MVAs

Let's now give passing thru a break

His points are well taken in our voyeristic society (let's be real, everyone oohhs, ahhs, shakes one's head, laughs, etc) when the lines for a flu shot (at clinics and grocery stores) are televised. We like the drama. And belive me, it's drama...

sean

mother/babyRN, RN · Dec 15, 2003

Ok ok, I get it Passing Thru....You must mean "Flu Happens"...Does it really matter? Why do we even discuss things?

We just try to push our points across and then defend them....

It really isn't any big deal now that I have had time to think about it..I disagree with some people and they disagree with me. I am not changing either my mind or opinion and neither are they and that really is the vein of every thread ( the thread of every vein)....

I give up and give in since it really is something that seems to be silly and apparently exhausting everyone attempting to make the opposite point...My son is doing better after a day or so of iv hydration so, while I do not believe this flu is "no different" from other years, perhaps, from reading what I think I did, you may mean the fact that it occurs is not any different from any other year. Actually, have no idea what you mean and don't pretend to be either talented, intelligent or awake enough to assume I do...

Don't like the flu...Don't like the cavalier way this subject was approached and can't figure out why any of us care enought to push the issue, me included....That said, have a Fluless Holiday Season and a Healthy New Year!