Swine Flu: Nothing to Sneeze At

The CDC has a regular posting of updated information regarding all influenza types and subtypes, including H1N1, here. For their purposes, the regular flu season begins at week 40 of the calendar year, and the report I'm looking at right now, for the week ending October 10, 2009, is a real eye-opener. H1N1 has made up fully 60% of all reported influenzas and 90% of all pediatric deaths since August 30, 2009, and the proportion of deaths due to pneumonia and influenza is "above the epidemic threshold":

"From August 30 – October 10, 2009, 4,958 laboratory-confirmed influenza associated hospitalizations, 292 laboratory-confirmed influenza associated deaths, 15,696 pneumonia and influenza syndrome-based hospitalizations, and 2,029 pneumonia and influenza syndrome-based deaths, were reported to CDC."

Compared to previous years, the jump start the flu has gotten on the season, seen here, is sobering. And the number of patients seeking care for flu symptoms this year shows that, beginning in week 33, 2009 saw a rocket-like acceleration of visits so fierce that by week 40 (only just the START of the flu season) the number exceeded those during the heavy season of weeks 7-9 during the epidemic 2007-2008 year.

What this all means to me is that the virulence of the H1N1 virus is demonstrating a stunning ramp-up that is hitting hard and fast, while the witch doctor cohort among us is sneering and spewing dipshit advice about the horrors of vaccination.

Get the fucking vaccine, people. It's not just YOUR life that's at stake.