General Discussion

vi5

(13,305 posts)

131. Misleading headline...

Sun Feb 11, 2018, 08:26 PM

Feb 2018

..that makes it sound like 4,000 people are dying every week just from the flu. From the article itself:

"Deaths from influenza and pneumonia, which are closely tied to each other in the winter months, were responsible for 1 of every 10 deaths last week, and that’s likely to rise, Schuchat said in a conference call Friday. There were 40,414 deaths in the U.S. during the third week of 2018, the most recent data available, and 4,064 were from pneumonia or influenza, according to the CDC data. The number for that week is expected to rise more reports are sent to the agency."

The pneumonia deaths are not necessarily directly tied to the flu, and this was just from one particular week not that this is happening every week.

It's still bad, and people should be safe and cautious. But that headline is a little alarmist.

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The Flu is Killing Up to 4,000 Americans a Week [View all] RKP5637 Feb 2018 OP

It's really bad backtoblue Feb 2018 #1

The M$M is highlighting 63 children have died. yallerdawg Feb 2018 #2

I'm a bit scared. I don't know if we would survive it. We're doing all the hand washing, etc., but RKP5637 Feb 2018 #3

here's a couple of things that could help ward it off RandomAccess Feb 2018 #81

Interesting! Thanks!!! n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #82

Take care JustAnotherGen Feb 2018 #83

It's so nasty, often leading to more things. Wow, sounds like you're doing a little better, RKP5637 Feb 2018 #87

I had some place to "go" JustAnotherGen Feb 2018 #108

I refuse to get the flu shot or the other shots they want me to take. onecent Feb 2018 #103

It's a tough choice to make JustAnotherGen Feb 2018 #107

I know, damn if you do and damned if you don't onecent Feb 2018 #112

oh wow Skittles Feb 2018 #130

The death numbers reported around the flu are always hinky. For example, it is often Squinch Feb 2018 #15

From the OP link: yallerdawg Feb 2018 #20

Pneumonia or influenza Beaverhausen Feb 2018 #118

"Closely linked in the winter." yallerdawg Feb 2018 #119

I tried to buy some face masks the other day csziggy Feb 2018 #77

I keep a jar of Vick's VapoRub on hand for the sensitive nose times dixiegrrrrl Feb 2018 #92

Anything in or on my nostrils drives me crazy csziggy Feb 2018 #93

i am an after-hours emergency operator AmandaRuth Feb 2018 #4

I had a friend who would circle gvstn Feb 2018 #13

I was trying to get stats on flu deaths hfojvt Feb 2018 #5

They count those people because they probably wouldn't have died Mariana Feb 2018 #19

my medical degree is from google U hfojvt Feb 2018 #45

Here you go, from the Centers for Disease Control. Mariana Feb 2018 #46

More ... Mariana Feb 2018 #47

yet here hfojvt Feb 2018 #56

They don't mention anything as a major cause, do they? Mariana Feb 2018 #62

My PhD is in influenza A virus mrs_p Feb 2018 #66

No. That is not correct. They count all the people who died of respiratory illnesses and then Squinch Feb 2018 #67

Preview of coming flu seasons. smirkymonkey Feb 2018 #6

I've been wondering that too ... with all of the permutations and combinations for flu I think it's RKP5637 Feb 2018 #9

It's definitely scary and I am not sure that science can keep up, especially when their budgets smirkymonkey Feb 2018 #12

also, I can't link to this and I don't know if it is true or not AmandaRuth Feb 2018 #7

Yep, the vaccine this year is not effective for the most prevalent type. It's almost a RKP5637 Feb 2018 #10

In Alabama, earlier this year we had 90% plus capacity in hospitals. yallerdawg Feb 2018 #17

Thanks for the update on 23%. I always get the vaccine every year. n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #18

Post removed Post removed Feb 2018 #30

Welcome. Enjoy your visit. JustABozoOnThisBus Feb 2018 #32

Already alerted hatrack Feb 2018 #34

That didn't take long ... nt JustABozoOnThisBus Feb 2018 #37

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2018 #35

6 . . 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . hatrack Feb 2018 #36

Thanks, MIRT - appreciate the assist! hatrack Feb 2018 #38

Wow, MIRT is incredible!!! n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #50

The tiniest grain of truth Cal Carpenter Feb 2018 #33

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2018 #51

That was fast. herding cats Feb 2018 #53

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2018 #54

You would know all about that, huh? herding cats Feb 2018 #55

Dang this place is being overrun today. Wth? Cal Carpenter Feb 2018 #57

Its just one busy little bee. herding cats Feb 2018 #58

It's not that it doesn't protect, it's that it's only about 10-30% effective Spider Jerusalem Feb 2018 #40

Thanks for the update!!! RKP5637 Feb 2018 #41

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2018 #59

Problem in one word: eggs Rollo Feb 2018 #128

"2 separate flu viruses" left-of-center2012 Feb 2018 #23

My doc sez patients are getting type B after they are getting over type A. dixiegrrrrl Feb 2018 #8

We've had something here ... not sick enough to be really sick, but we both have it, seems RKP5637 Feb 2018 #11

My husband had the flu twice - I'm assuming A & B - I thought I was going to lose AnotherMother4Peace Feb 2018 #16

Scary. I had a flu shot too...and have not gotten it thus far. I don't deal well with flu...at the Demsrule86 Feb 2018 #24

Its almost germ warfare level. roamer65 Feb 2018 #14

Our university hospitals are full Horse with no Name Feb 2018 #21

At least censorship techniques have advanced since, I think, 2007/9? Hortensis Feb 2018 #22

I'm wearing gloves to the gym till this thing subsides. lindysalsagal Feb 2018 #25

I'm scared even thinking of having it, sounds really bad. I have Tamiflu just in case. n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #26

One minute I was at work, going strong. I started to feel achy, and 30 minutes later I asked a co-wo lindysalsagal Feb 2018 #28

Wow, I've had nothing like that. n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #42

Lots of people throw the word "flu"around, but until you're feeling millions of nerves you never kne lindysalsagal Feb 2018 #43

I had it really bad about 7 years or so ago. It was horrible horrible. I should have gone to RKP5637 Feb 2018 #48

"your hair ache" dixiegrrrrl Feb 2018 #94

Yeah. You've had the real flu. Most have no idea. lindysalsagal Feb 2018 #106

I'm 71 with a weakened immune system (diabetes). left-of-center2012 Feb 2018 #27

Stay home as much as possible. Let a friend deliver meds and groceries. De-stress and do relaxation lindysalsagal Feb 2018 #29

So ---- Don't watch the news? left-of-center2012 Feb 2018 #64

watch the news only if you can discuss here with us, left-of-center! Skittles Feb 2018 #86

Schools in northern AL have been closing for 2-4 days ... eppur_se_muova Feb 2018 #31

I don't believe any "official" numbers. It is scary as hell knowing the numbers are likely much dewsgirl Feb 2018 #39

Yep, it's like TPTB think they can cover it up. It's a stupid approach in a supposedly enlightened RKP5637 Feb 2018 #120

And how many weeks have they been keeping track? Iggo Feb 2018 #44

I think they've been tracking it since day 1. n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #49

And what date was Day 1? Iggo Feb 2018 #79

About 6 weeks ago. RKP5637 Feb 2018 #80

Thank you! Iggo Feb 2018 #84

I don't see anything about 4000 deaths weekly in that CDC summary. Squinch Feb 2018 #102

Here's another article stating the same, there are a number in searches, although neither did I see RKP5637 Feb 2018 #114

GET A FLU SHOT, !!!!! not perfect but it will help Motley13 Feb 2018 #52

K&R!!! n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #60

Yes! Several articles about deaths (especially in the young) EllieBC Feb 2018 #74

Just today, after six days, my immune system figured out the combination to this year's flu. rzemanfl Feb 2018 #61

Curious, did you take Tamiflu? Thanks! n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #63

No and I should have said that. I was at the doctor for a scheduled visit during the "mild cold" rzemanfl Feb 2018 #65

DID YOU HAVE THE FLU SHOT? Motley13 Feb 2018 #68

Both my kids got the shot sarah FAILIN Feb 2018 #70

I doubt you have it GulfCoast66 Feb 2018 #85

I mentioned that I did. Please don't yell. n/t rzemanfl Feb 2018 #75

I'm confused. OhZone Feb 2018 #69

We had that here. Not the real flu, but something like you said! n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #73

All our vents are on patients and we've "rented" a dozen more. ileus Feb 2018 #71

Where are the "The Flu shot gave me the flu" posts? n/t USALiberal Feb 2018 #72

Replaced sarah FAILIN Feb 2018 #96

My sweetie is presently undergoing chemo thucythucy Feb 2018 #76

... RKP5637 Feb 2018 #78

I had the flu shot - the rest of my family did not. GreenEyedLefty Feb 2018 #88

Flu shots do work, they are not always perfect, but they do work. I would never ever not RKP5637 Feb 2018 #89

I'm getting one every year from here on out. My kids too, to the extent that I can "make" them. GreenEyedLefty Feb 2018 #91

I had a very similar experience to yours. I also had the shot. Looks like we got some protection stevenleser Feb 2018 #110

My husband and I are getting over the flu right now. We both had flu shots. Shrike47 Feb 2018 #90

Imagine if you will.. MFM008 Feb 2018 #95

I did some reading on this. GreenEyedLefty Feb 2018 #111

A friend of a friend lost their 9 year old daughter to the flu a few weeks ago. tenderfoot Feb 2018 #97

Dear God. I am so sorry. Hekate Feb 2018 #100

For the first time in years, I let myself get talked into getting the flu shot DFW Feb 2018 #98

It's pretty bad. I got the flu shot, I always do. I've had something about a week as have others in RKP5637 Feb 2018 #117

Talk about a scary thread. Hubby & I are both officially "seniors" now. He's 71 this month. Hekate Feb 2018 #99

K&R!!! n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #116

i was reading the smithsonian's aricle on the 1918 spanish flu. pansypoo53219 Feb 2018 #101

I just posted this NYT article on why it's so bad this year, really bad. RKP5637 Feb 2018 #125

I know multiple people Coast to Coast that have had it Renew Deal Feb 2018 #104

Then it must be time to slash the CDC budget so they have to cut their epidemic prevention by 80%. Vinca Feb 2018 #105

Where do you get 4000/wk? nt LAS14 Feb 2018 #109

It's in the article title I quoted, also here, for example. RKP5637 Feb 2018 #115

Malwarebytes blocks this site. Just FYI for folks who aren't running anti-malware software. nt LAS14 Feb 2018 #126

Wow, that's interesting! I run a real time scanner and it shows nothing, guess it's missing it! RKP5637 Feb 2018 #127

That is nonsense. Even the CDC says different. Why panic people? Tipperary Feb 2018 #136

I did not write the headline! Here is another article, Bloomberg, saying the same. RKP5637 Feb 2018 #137

It's on the high side this year, but not near a record. FarCenter Feb 2018 #113

Just got back from AZ and so far so good. B2G Feb 2018 #121

Wow, I would have my fingers crossed too. Hope you don't get it. ... seems it would RKP5637 Feb 2018 #122

Yeah the incubation period is 1-4 days. B2G Feb 2018 #123

Glad to hear you're ok!!!!!! RKP5637 Feb 2018 #124

I got my shot, still got the flu but only for 3 days NickB79 Feb 2018 #129

Misleading headline... vi5 Feb 2018 #131

General info. MarvinGardens Feb 2018 #132

Thanks for this summary!!! I get the shot every year. Your mentioning the RKP5637 Feb 2018 #133

Weather BlueDog22 Feb 2018 #134

To me, weather has an influence on it. n/t RKP5637 Feb 2018 #135