Friday, January 18, 2013
The health department’s second weekly report on the flu outbreak more than doubles the number of reported deaths in the state.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Jay Corn
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Friday, January 18
UPDATED STORY The influenza outbreak of 2012-13 has now killed 60 Minnesotans and hospitalized 1,842, according to information released late yesterday by the Minnesota Department of Health. The department’s second weekly report on the flu outbreak more than doubles the number of reported deaths in the state; which totaled 27 last week on Jan. 13. The total number of deaths is now nearly as high as that of the swine flu outbreak of 2009-10, which killed 67 Minnesotans. The number of flu-related hospitalizations actually exceeds the total of 2009-10. Related posts: According to a Fox 9 news report, 88 percent of the deaths were patients age 65 or older, making up 53 of the 60 fatal cases this season. There were no deaths in the past week …
Monday, January 14, 2013
Get answers from a medical doctor, a specialist in traditional Chinese medicine, and two public health professionals.
The numbers behind this winter's influenza epidemic can look really scary. It's sickened thousands and killed at least 27 in Minnesota alone, including a 14-year old St. Louis Park high schooler who was first hospitalized on Christmas Day. To top it off, the flu strains being passed around this year are spreading even further and faster than in most years. All together, it can make you worry that the next person to sneeze on you at the grocery store could give you the bug. It's the kind of worry that leaves you asking questions. How contagious is influenza? What can you do to steel yourself against the virus? How does a flu shot or an immune-boosting substance even work? To answer all your queries, Patch has asked a team of experts to …
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Rates were higher in December, and only scattered faculty absences being blamed on flu.
From Westonka school nurse, Lois VanDyke: We had more influenza like illness in December. Right now we are on the downside in all buildings, however that can change as the flu can come in waves. We have had one to two staff members out with the flu like illness too. Some parents have called in with a confirmation that their child has Influenza A. Most call in stating their child has fever, body aches, and sore throat. As for prevention, we follow the health departments recommendations: 1. stay home if you are sick. 2. wash your hands. 3. get a flu shot. 4. Stay away from others who are sick. Those of us in the health offices are taking students' temperatures, evaluating the sore throats and coughs, contacting parents if the student is too …
Friday, January 11, 2013
More than 1,100 hospitalized; Minnesota Department of Health urges precautions. So far, absences at Minnetonka Schools are consistent with past years.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Jay Corn
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Friday, January 11
This flu season is proving brutal in Minnesota, with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) now reporting 27 deaths in the state, including 23 that officials have been able to confirm as flu-related since Dec. 30. Since the start of the influenza season, 1,121 people have been hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, according to the MDH reports for the 2012–2013 season. That number includes 401 hospitalizations for the week ending Jan. 5. MDH officials say the number of those hospitalized throughout the state rivals those seen during the 2009 swine flu pandemic, but that there is no evidence that the current wave of illnesses is prompted by a new virus. "What is occurring has happened before," Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. …
Cassandra Morrison
1:13 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
The problem is that too many have been scared away from getting vaccinated by scare stories on the internet (and elsewhere) that the flu vaccine will "turn people into zombies" and other such nonsense. Instead people are buying into old wives' tales about cutting an onion and leaving it about as it "kills flu germs". Some emails I have seen insist that it is just as effective against influenza as… more ›