Category Archives: Influenza

Things That Should Be Done to Combat Avian Influenza, but Likely Will Not Be Done

Posted on January 7, 2025 by mikethemadbiologist

I hope I’m wrong! But if the previous Trump administration is any guide, along with the anti-public health radicalization of the right, they won’t be. Anyway, the RAND Institute offers several policy suggestions: Recommendation 1: Declare H5N1 a PHE and … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Influenza, Public Health | 1 Comment

A Modest Proposal for a Flu Vaccination Campaign

Posted on December 30, 2024 by mikethemadbiologist

By way of background, we go to the Great State of Louisiana (boldface mine): Flu season is ramping up across the US, but Louisiana—the state that has reportedly barred its health department from promoting flu shots, as well as COVID-19 … Continue reading →

Posted in Influenza, Propaganda, Public Health | 1 Comment

Infectious Disease Isn’t All or Nothing: The Pediatric Influenza Deaths Edition

Posted on April 2, 2024 by mikethemadbiologist

One, among many, foolish beliefs that arose during the pandemic is the belief that if an intervention doesn’t completely stop transmission, it’s not worth doing. The idea that fewer sick people (from anything, not just COVID) is apparently too quantitative … Continue reading →

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A Quick Note on Possible mRNA Based Influenza Vaccines

Posted on December 7, 2023 by mikethemadbiologist

STAT recently had a very good article describing the pros and cons of an mRNA vaccine. But I don’t think this con should be underestimated (boldface mine): When mRNA Covid vaccines became available in the winter and spring of 2021, … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19, Influenza | 1 Comment

Finally, the CDC Asks People to Wear Masks

Posted on December 6, 2022 by mikethemadbiologist

About fucking time (boldface mine): The Centers for Disease Control Prevention on Monday encouraged people to wear masks to help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses this season as Covid, flu and RSV circulate at the same time. CDC Director … Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, COVID-19, Influenza | 2 Comments

COVID Prevalence in D.C.

Posted on December 5, 2022 by mikethemadbiologist

Last week, D.C. had a post-Thanksgiving back-to-school COVID testathon. Some observations and thoughts: 1.3% of staff, and 0.6% of students tested positive (though around thirty percent of students didn’t test at all); lumped together, we have 0.7% total. Note these … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19, DC, Influenza | 1 Comment

We Should Be Masking Now

Posted on November 23, 2022 by mikethemadbiologist

As some asshole with a blog put it: Nationally, pediatric wards are being slammed by multiple respiratory viruses, and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center is considering setting up tents to treat the overflow. Massachusetts is also experiencing problems, and D.C.’s Children’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Human Decency, COVID-19, Influenza | Comments Off on We Should Be Masking Now

About That Stafford County, VA Outbreak…

Posted on November 1, 2022 by mikethemadbiologist

Last week, upon reading a story about a school in Stafford County, VA, that had an outbreak (~1,000 out of 2,100 students) of “flu-like/gastrointestinal symptoms”, I polled the tweeple about the cause of this massive outbreak: While I didn’t pre-register … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19, Influenza | 1 Comment

Apples and Oranges, COVID-19 and Flu

Posted on May 5, 2020 by mikethemadbiologist

Comparisons of COVID-19 to influenza have been used to downplay the seriousness of the pandemic. As you might imagine, there has been a lot of ‘data torturing’ to argue that COVID-19 deaths, which have now passed 60,000 in the U.S., … Continue reading →

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Pharmacies Need to Be Part of Fighting Influenza

Posted on December 9, 2019 by mikethemadbiologist

And right now, they aren’t (boldface mine): When adults want a flu shot, they have two choices: go to the doctor or go to a pharmacy. But in most states, laws prevent parents from just walking into a pharmacy and … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare, Influenza, Public Health | 1 Comment