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ColoradoBlue

(111 posts)

23. Read a fascinating book

Sun Jan 14, 2018, 11:24 PM

Jan 2018

I read a fascinating book years ago about the 1918 flu. There were many things at play with the spread and why it was so deadly.

Because of WWI, it was able to travel quickly due to soldiers coming and going from Europe as well as the close quarters they lived in.

We didn't know what a virus was yet and therefore, had no idea what really caused the flu, how it was transmitted or how to stop it.

Unlike many flu strains which attack the very old or the very young, this strain was particularly hard on young, healthy adults. In effect, it turned their very robust immune system against them.

The book also really helps bring the devastating impact the flu had on families and cities. Really interesting and very scary.

If anyone is interested: https://www.amazon.com/Flu-Influenza-Pandemic-Search-Caused/dp/0743203984/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

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We are not ready for the influenza pandemic [View all] lordsummerisle Jan 2018 OP

I had the flu-shot in early November, quartz007 Jan 2018 #1

How much are you paying for a flu shot? Fiendish Thingy Jan 2018 #2

I guess you are right quartz007 Jan 2018 #4

You and your wife have separate insurance and don't share the cost of meds in your household? Hekate Jan 2018 #19

Correct, I have HMO, she has PPO quartz007 Jan 2018 #21

Are you sure it was the flu? lunamagica Jan 2018 #34

I based it on symptoms.. quartz007 Jan 2018 #78

Huh. I thought that post ACA, insurance was required to cover flu shots Orangepeel Jan 2018 #70

I thought so as well quartz007 Jan 2018 #75

Mine was free - with Obamacare jpak Jan 2018 #6

Even at $15 per shot, for a family of five thats $75 ... Anon-C Jan 2018 #30

It usually reduces the severity somewhat. Our Hortensis Jan 2018 #71

I thought they were saying 10% effective. Squinch Jan 2018 #76

My Mother got the flu shot every year and in January 2013 she died from arthritisR_US Jan 2018 #52

My condolences quartz007 Jan 2018 #77

supposedly getting the shot will reduce sympoms if you get the flu Skittles Jan 2018 #3

I agree left-of-center2012 Jan 2018 #7

Yes, I can vouch for that quartz007 Jan 2018 #8

I had the flu once and it slammed me so hard Skittles Jan 2018 #10

Me, too - got Hong Kong flu in the 1968 epidemic (H3N2). The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2018 #26

It did for me this year JustAnotherGen Jan 2018 #55

Insurance pays for the flu shot left-of-center2012 Jan 2018 #5

Yes I have health insurance quartz007 Jan 2018 #9

Not always Neurotica Jan 2018 #36

With our company insurace the flu shot GP6971 Jan 2018 #79

Flu shot only 10% effective this year for the main strain womanofthehills Jan 2018 #48

I was paid five dollars to take my flu shot. NCTraveler Jan 2018 #64

Kiryas Joel fighting flu outbreak 1370 people down with it Historic NY Jan 2018 #11

Its a nasty little strain that came from Australia...H3N2. roamer65 Jan 2018 #12

The Flu shot gives about 33% protection against H3N2 stevenleser Jan 2018 #24

Current flu shot is only 10% effective against the H3N2 lapfog_1 Jan 2018 #40

20 to 50 million died in the 1918 flu pandemic. Do we know why it was so deadly? Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #13

From what I have read, it went into pneumonia quickly dixiegrrrrl Jan 2018 #14

Without antibiotics, pneumonia is serious. Yes about 8 years ago we had flu deaths in my area too. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #15

We got a few weeks ago, got better fro a couple of days, then it came back, dixiegrrrrl Jan 2018 #20

Maybe that is what happened here, the flu came back. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #58

I think that this is the fear with antibiotic resistance. We go back to 1918. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #18

Too many doctors placate patients by handing out antibiotics tymorial Jan 2018 #33

I agree completely. This is one of the reasons a physician friend of mine quit Family Practice Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #60

The hospitals in Mobile are all full misanthrope Jan 2018 #50

Wow, this is awful. People must be really sick to go to the ER. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #61

There are a number of good books on this that a search will turn up n/t lordsummerisle Jan 2018 #16

Thanks, I did a quick search and couldn't find much, will keep looking. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #17

The very best book about the 1918 flu PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2018 #31

Excellent book MFM008 Jan 2018 #47

Thank you very much PointDexter. Fascinating. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #59

Read a fascinating book ColoradoBlue Jan 2018 #23

Thanks for the book rec. Hard to believe how primitive health care was 100 yrs ago. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #62

There's tons of info on the Internet, even Wikipedia. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2018 #27

Thank you for the book rec. VO. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #63

Cytokines storm- look it up Fiendish Thingy Jan 2018 #43

Yes I will, had not heard of this before. Thank you. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #65

This is an excellent review: Tanuki Jan 2018 #49

Thank you, very interesting. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #66

My grandmother d_r Jan 2018 #56

She was near death but pulled through. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #68

Cytokine storm. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2018 #57

Yes that is what everyone is saying here. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #69

Just in: CDC: Flu is now considered epidemic in U.S. dixiegrrrrl Jan 2018 #72

Spread to all US states. The flu spreads so easily. Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #73

I got the flu shot, but still ended up with it 2 days after Christmas. It has hit hard here in MA. smirkymonkey Jan 2018 #22

Did not get the shot for the first time in years GulfCoast66 Jan 2018 #25

I hope you feel better soon without complications. nt Ilsa Jan 2018 #29

TY GulfCoast66 Jan 2018 #54

I work with palliative care and hospice kids. I get the shot. It's not fair to them mucifer Jan 2018 #28

I don't get the shot, although perhaps in the future I will choose to do so. PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2018 #32

That was H2N2. You might not have any immunity for other strains The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2018 #37

I got the flu several times growing up. PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2018 #39

Ah, I had the flu in 1968- my first bout Fiendish Thingy Jan 2018 #44

A 10 year old child died in the town... 3catwoman3 Jan 2018 #35

So what if you are allergic to the flu shot? Elwood P Dowd Jan 2018 #38

I don't get them because of allergies too womanofthehills Jan 2018 #51

If enough people you associate with are getting the vaccination, you are afforded afforded still_one Jan 2018 #53

We're not ready for a missile strike. sarcasmo Jan 2018 #41

My 7 year old has it I think. EllieBC Jan 2018 #42

For those hunting for an excellent book: John M. Barry's "The Great Influenza"... Hekate Jan 2018 #45

Yes, others here are recommending this book. nt Irish_Dem Jan 2018 #74

My mom is in local hospital MFM008 Jan 2018 #46

a nearby school district was closed all last week withoutapaddle Jan 2018 #67

I am re-reading "Influeza 1918" by Lynette Iezzoni Lifelong Protester Jan 2018 #80