The Flu #325
By Hank Silverberg
After hearing some reports last week that the flu season across the country was getting a bit nasty, I pitched a local angle of that story to my editors at the new non- profit newspaper, The Fredericksburg Advance, where I am now reporting part time. What were the number of cases in my region and how bad were they? And what can you do to prevent it? It would be a good story, and maybe prevent someone from getting the illness. I started checking
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| (Flu virus, public domain) |
preliminary numbers a week ago Friday, but realized it would be better to wait until Monday when a new week's statistics were published. Then came the federal holiday--Presidents Day-- when state workers all had the day off, and I could not get anyone to talk about my region of Virginia in particular. Such is the life of a reporter. I could wait a day. But by Tuesday afternoon I wasn't feeling very much like writing a news story or doing anything else. A trip to an urgent care facility led to the emergency room where I discovered my hunches this flu was a nasty one were correct. I had it. I was one of the 2,383 new cases of influenza A reported nationwide last week, and I would not wish the flu on my worst enemy. It's five days later and it is still with me, though I did feel well enough to write this blog. This flu comes with a nasty cough which still lingers and a foggy head which took all five days to clear. The CDC, which is apparently still producing flu reports despite all the staffing cutbacks, has now classified this as a "high severity" flu season for all age groups, the first such high severity flu season since the pre-pandemic 2017-2018.
It is not a joke. Nationwide there were 18 pediatric deaths from the flu last week, and a total of 86 pediatric deaths for the 2024-2025 season, according to the CDC. Nineteen thousand people in general died from the flu from this outbreak. There were at least 33 million cases reported and 430,000 hospitalizations.
Many of us were encouraged to get the flu vaccine at the beginning of the season this past November, and I did as I have done for many years. But for the first time in 30 years of shots, it didn't work for me. Or did it? Would my illness have been deadly if I hadn't gotten the shot?
I will get to the local angle on this story for my newspaper this week, I hope. But you can be sure I am washing my hands more often and getting some badly needed rest. I will be calling my state health department on Monday for more details for my newspaper story. If you have managed to avoid the flu so far, consider yourself lucky.
News You May Have Missed!
Or maybe this story should be labeled "news of the absurd". A Republican Congresswoman, Anna Paulina Luna of California, has introduced a bill in Congress to add President Donald Trump to Mount Rushmore. The legislation says such a move would honor Trump's "accomplishments in economic growth, national security, and foreign policy," even
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| (Mt Rushmore courtesy NPS) |
Mt Rushmore, is in South Dakota and currently depicts Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln carved into the side of a mountain.
It was completed in 1941and has not been altered since. A proposal to add Ronald Reagan was rejected by Congress in 1999 (experts have said there is no more room on the mountain anyway).
This is one of several bills that want to change names on places to include an honor for Mr. Trump. Another proposes to rename Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia to Donald J. Trump International Airport.
Dumbest Quote of The Week!
It is a sad state of affairs, and frankly a bit frightening when the dumbest quote of the week comes from a U.S. Diplomat. But that's what we have this week. It comes from U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who is just back from conversations with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. Appearing on CNN, he was asked about the peace talks over Ukraine and why the Ukrainians were not invited to participate. First, Mr. Witkoff refused to acknowledge that the current war started three years ago when Russia invaded Ukraine. Nor would he acknowledge that Russia "annexed" Crimea in 2014 without the consent of Ukraine or anyone else. Then when asked how President Trump was going to bring peace to the region, he said:
"What does the President do best? He brings people together!"
And the world shutters.
Mr. Trump, possibly the most divisive president we have ever had, continues to try to pressure the Ukrainians to grant the U.S. special rights over their mineral riches as part of any peace deal with the Russians.
And the world shutters again.
(You suggestions and comments are welcome)
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q7K6M5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
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