PalMD is a practicing internist in the Great Lakes region of the U.S.. Aside from the great joy he finds in his family and his work, he likes communicating some of that joy to others. He has a special interest in the ways patients---and we are all patients at one time or another---are deceived by charlatans. He aims to change the world, one reader at a time. Previous writings can still be found 
Last spring, when the flu season is usually winding down, we had a "second flu season" brought to us by the novel H1N1 ("swine") flu. After school let out for the summer, the numbers declined, but not to the usual low summer rate. Now, as fall begins, flu is picking up again---fast. Pandemic swine flu is hitting our naive population fiercely.
From the CDC Red is this year
This graph clearly illustrates the high baseline during what would normally not be flu season, and the early peak which we are (hopefully) approaching.
This correlates with my own clinical experience. It's gonna be a busy season.
Medicine & Health
Comments
It seems like the seasonal flu vaccine is a bit behind the curve, seeing as they are just becoming widely available. Is it just because of the H1N1?
I'm thinking that I am not too sad to not have to interact with many people these days. That, and I got my seasonal flu vaccine.
Posted by: Egaeus | October 5, 2009 9:54 PM