“Significant increases in flu activity in the U.S. in the last three weeks…”-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
One hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, in just the past week confirmed 200 cases of flu, mostly kids: “Right now hundreds of kids in the emergency room this week. We’ve had over 200 diagnoses of flu. Eight to 10 admitted to the hospital a day and two in intensive care. It’s really hitting Memphis hard.”-John McCullers, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
On 07 December, South Dakota‘s Pennington County reported their first flu death. There are 156 confirmed cases.
In North Carolina, two deaths reported on 29 November. According to Forsyth County Health officials, one adult had other medical problems, but the other adult did not.
Also, on 28 November South Carolina reported one death caused by flu, in Barnwell County. Department of Health and Environmental Control said they had 1232 positive flu tests in just one week!
On 21 November, San Diego County, California, reported its first flu death of the 2012-13 season.
Wyoming reporting an early start to their flu season. First case reported back in October, with 342 confirmed cases of by the 1st of December.
New York reporting widespread flu activity. Former New York City Mayor, Ed Koch, is about to leave the hospital after being admitted a week ago with both pneumonia and flu.
08 December, Pennsylvania health officials reporting big jumps in flu cases. Flu status for the state was raised from “Sporadic” to “Regional”. Officials expect to hit “Widespread” status next week.
09 December, Wisconsin reporting 113 confirmed cases, and four deaths.
Main stream U.S. media reporting that several children have died. Fox News says three kids have died, NBC says five. Neither one gave details, and simply referenced the CDC. The CDC says there have been five “pediatric deaths” so far, three during the week of 25 November to 01 December. The deaths involved both flu A and flu B strains.
Across the northern border in Canada, reported on 10 December one child and three adults have died in the Waterloo Region of southern Ontario. The three older adults died from flu A. Health officials would only say that the child who died was younger than 10, and did not get vaccinated.
Some Canadians have publicly questioned the official flu death reports. One doctor even said it was a guessing game: “This is a scientific guess. This is not the truth…I think people may have the misconception that every person who dies from the flu is somehow counted somewhere, and they’re not…”-Michael Gardam, director of the infection prevention and control unit University Health Network
Back here in the U.S. of A., another doctor is pointing out that other viruses can cause flu like symptoms: “There’s lots of other viruses out there that cause the flu and cause other flu-like illnesses. It may not be the flu, but it’s still a bad cold or a bad cough that kids transfer to and from one another.”-Charles Bregier, Presbyterian Urgent Care
Across the Pacific, in Russia, birds are getting the blame. Russian officials in the Krasnodar region (bordering the Black Sea) are reporting that hundreds of ducks have died from a new “low-pathogenic flu”. In other words, there’s a new bird flu out there.
There is also a new cat/dog flu being reported in Thailand. Veterinarians say the new flu goes after cats and dogs who’re are already sick, most have had skin problems before getting the new flu: “Before they died, they would have sores on their bodies, coughs, runny noses, no appetite, and convulsions. If the disease hit a mother cat, it would claim the lives of the mother and the kittens.”-Payao Inman, nun working at Buddhist temple were unwanted pets are abandoned