Flu spreads, kills 20 children

[FarCenter]

Influenza continued its spread across the country last week, and it’s now killed 20 children, federal health officials reported Friday.

Deaths from flu-like illness and pneumonia are now at epidemic levels — nothing unusual for mid-January, but a reminder that while flu is a regular visitor, it’s also a killer. Flu kills people every year — anywhere between 3,000 and 49,000 a year, depending on the season. At the same time last year, flu had already killed 29 children.

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/flu-spreads-kills-20-children-2D11947784

[shenmue]

1. Lord have mercy

So sorry.

[hrmjustin]

3. sick!

[In_The_Wind]

4. very !

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. Yeah, that was really funny.

[hrmjustin]

6. I know she has bad moments a lot but that was just disgusting.

[question everything]

7. This is really heartbreaking

The other day we saw on the news a sobbing mother whose young daughter died 72 hours after contacting the H1N1 virus. No, she was not vaccinated. And while my heart went to her I wondered loud whether she should be charged for child neglect. My spouse commented that this mother is already punished enough and I replied that the judge can decide that.

In contrast to "regular flue" that affects the elderly, the H1N1 goes after children.

Perhaps the image of this sobbing mother can be used for public service announcement. It is my understanding that children can still be vaccinated and saved.

[gerogie2]

8. No the Flu shot doesn't offer complete protection

About 10% of the people that get the flu shot end up getting the flu. Immunization will help many people prevent infection, however there is a failure rate that exists with all immunizations. I had a brother that received the measles shot as a child, he still came down with the measles and was brain damaged.

[Barack_America]

9. Where do you get that statistic from?

Influenza vaccination takes up to 2 weeks to become fully effective, that gap accounts for almost all individuals who "got the flu shot, but still got the flu".

As for measles, immunity can wane if people do not get the recommended boosters, which many older people did not. I didn't and had to get revaccinated. No big deal. But people have to be proactive about asking their doctors or having their titers checked.

Very sorry about your brother.