A Deadly Epidemic Killed More Than 48,000 Americans in 2003-4!!!11!

[MineralMan]

It's true. A deadly epidemic swept through the US at the end of the year 2003 and through the beginning of 2004. Almost 50,000 Americans in all age categories died horrible deaths, as they were no longer able to breathe enough oxygen to maintain life.

The truth is that the same epidemic continues to kill American citizens every year. Sometimes it kills fewer, and sometimes more, but thousands die from this repeating epidemic each year. Developing outside of our borders, it creeps into the U.S. each year, causing untold suffering, even in those who do not succumb.

If only there were a vaccine to prevent this lethal scourge! If only our government paid attention to this epidemic! If only we were warned in time to close the borders and prevent its spread! If only the CDC warned us and told us how to avoid the danger of this deadly disease!

Something must be done!!!1!!

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5933a1.htm#tab2

[still_one]

1. and the anti-vexers still will put their head in the sand

[MineralMan]

2. Yes, and they will blame the government for Ebola, too.

It's sickening. Literally!

[postulater]

3. I think they already did something.

[MineralMan]

4. Oh...

thanks...

[uppityperson]

5. People who are contagious should protect the rest of the world and stay home.

Employers should allow them to.

[MineralMan]

9. Yes, they should, but they won't. Many can't.

That's why I get my flu shot long before the flu shows up in my area. If you wait, everywhere that gives the flu shots is full of people who are sick with the flu. Better to get vaccinated early and skip the infectious soup of a clinic during flu season. The day I went to the clinic at Target, where I went to buy a cheap printer for my computer, there was nobody at the clinic at all. Just the nurse practitioner, who stabbed me with the quadruple-dose vaccine for old farts like me.

[uppityperson]

11. An inlaw recently told me had gotten the flu shot and then had the flu 2 days later. Turns out GI

virus, gastrointestinal virus since their only symptom was diarrhea.

More education is needed. Yes, you can get diarrhea with influenza, but if that is your only symptom, it is either another virus or bad food.

Hear those people going hack hack, cough cough cough? Ever have that 3 week bronchitis cough? Most likely the aftermath of influenza.

Get the vaccine and avoid feeling like a truck hit you and then coughing for 3 weeks. Or worse.

[MineralMan]

12. I've heard that one too. Silliness. People don't even know the symptoms of

the flu, despite their being broadcast incessantly on the TV daily every year during flu season.

[Avalux]

6. The flu? Bah!

It's just the flu....certainly not as scary as Ebola! Oh wait - the flu kills that many people every year? What? The flu? Should I get a vaccine? I don't think I should, it might give me the flu or worse. I think I'll just take my chances and see what happens, nothing is going to happen to me!

[MineralMan]

7. Well, it won't matter. You'll catch Ebola anyhow from someone who knows someone

who once met someone from Texas who knew someone whose cousin worked in the gift shop at a hospital in Dallas. Not THAT hospital, but another one. Still, she probably knew the nurses at Texas Health Presbyterian, so you're doomed. It's freaking hopeless. I've just given myself up to my fate as an Ebola victim. I was once IN Texas, for pete's sake. That's first-hand exposure, even if it was in the 1960s. Doomed, I tell you. I'm doomed. We're all doomed.

[hfojvt]

8. some flu years seem to be much worse than others

and yet most of the casualties (in 2003-4 it was 90%) are over the age of 65.

[MineralMan]

10. That's true. Since I'm now an almost 70 year old geezer,

I make sure I get my flu shot early.

[Lochloosa]

13. I'm a young sprout at 56 and always get mine earlier.