As the flu season approaches, it is essential to avoid catching the flu, especially for those receiving home health care in Corona, California. The flu can be particularly dangerous for the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and individuals with chronic illnesses. Therefore, taking preventative measures to protect yourself and those around you is crucial.

Succession predictions:

Kendall goes to prison for defrauding investors. He and some prison friends end up starting a band (along with his boy Squiggle, of course). They find light success in jersey

Roman gets cancelled on twitter (many possible reasons) and consequently gets ousted from the company (kenfraud contributes). His next few years are spent couch surfing between conwilla, krank, and gerri (they return to amicable terms after Gerri fires him)

Shiv sees the company (and her brothers) once again falling into disarray and quietly extracts herself from waystar royco, focusing on heading the pierce deal without Kendall (prison), with Roman reminding her what numbers mean when he’s not up to big city hijinx

Tom quits to become a stay at home dad to his daughter, Logan. He and shiv remain married but it’s not like a big serious thing they just like chewing on each other. They’re both slutting it up extramaritally

Connor loses the presidency. This time. In four years he becomes the first openly libertarian president (diversity win) of the United States. but is unfortunately assassinated four months into his term. People got really parasocially invested in his marriage with Willa (a la John mulaney) so her career gets a boost from all of this.

Cousin Greg ends up inheriting the company as the last Roy still working there. It was specified in Logan (original flavor)’s will. He hates running a company. He tries and fails to burn Waystar Royco for insurance money.

Just a heads up -- there is an ongoing outbreak of Canine Influenza Virus in the Southeastern US. So far, no cases have been reported in my state, but we are still reminding our clients to keep their dogs' Influenza vaccines up-to-date, particularly if they travel with their dogs or have visitors who bring their dogs with them. We also recommend an Influenza vaccine if your dog visits places where lots of dogs gather (such as dog parks, groomer's salons, or pet/feed stores), or if you often have stray or hunting dogs run through your property.

For more information on Canine Influenza:

https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/canine-influenza-pet-owners-guide

There's a part in Marryat's Peter Simple where the eponymous hero... gets coronavirus?! With little warning, he falls ill:

I sent my letter to O'Brien to the admiral's office, sat down to a dinner which I could not taste, and at seven o'clock got into the mail. I was very ill; I had a burning fever and a dreadful headache, but I thought only of my sister.

Loss of taste and high fever are well-known Covid-19 symptoms, and now headache is increasingly recognized.

Whatever is wrong with Peter, he's seriously ill. He takes a stagecoach (way to not isolate), feeling increasingly miserable and out of it, and after the coach is robbed by highwaymen he's turned out to stagger his way to a nearby cottage:

The fever now raged in me, my head was splitting with agony, and I tottered to a bank near a small neat cottage, on the side of the road. I have a faint recollection of some one coming to me and taking my hand, but nothing further; and it was not till many months afterwards, that I became acquainted with the circumstances which I now relate.

The loss of taste followed by fever really jumped out at me, like Marryat is writing this from experience and not just a Romantic notion of characters falling ill due to emotional distress (which also happens in his books). Sometimes, it's obvious that he is drawing on his lived experiences, like when Jacob Faithful is sick with typhus—vividly described and almost certainly based on Marryat having Walcheren Fever in the Napoleonic Wars.

"If a pig catches both a human influenza A virus and an avian influenza A virus at the same time, it can spark a process known as viral reassortment — a genetic exchange in which flu viruses swap gene segments." "Those swaps can introduce dramatic changes, producing a new virus with certain properties of a non-human strain coupled with the capacity to infect and spread between people." "The death rate in humans may be upwards of 50 per cent, World Health Organization data suggests, though it's possible that milder infections are getting missed, skewing the case fatality ratio. Still, in a population that's never been exposed, the global impacts could be dire." "More human cases could also be happening under the radar among farm workers who've moved to the U.S. from abroad, don't speak English as their first language, and may be hesitant to seek medical help, he added." "So I think there's probably underreporting on both sides," Armstrong said." "If [H5N1] gets into a population where there's constantly animals going in and out … it might not ever leave."

I've been watching this develop for the past several days, and apart from being terrified most people will not take this seriously (I've seen a handful of people already shout conspiracy on social media and it's alarming to see, as always). What I wanted to point out is that pandemics are going to continue to be our 'normal.' I watched a great video on YouTube a while ago (I believe it was by Vice?) that touched base on how this is going to become our new reality because of multiple factors (such as our proximity to animals, and environments/etc). It was when Covid hit and they did a piece debunking some of the misinformation floating on the internet. If I can find it I will post it here because it was informative and relevant to pretty much any world crisis we will see around any virus that spreads among a human population.

This post isn't trying to fear monger anyone, I just hope more people are aware of what is happening because this is important to talk about. There are already cases (of cows getting this bird flu) in the US, and I won't be surprised if there will be instances in more countries around the world. As usual, keep washing your hands/keeping good hygiene practices, masking up (and if you aren't I hope you consider it), and taking precautions if you do happen to visit/work or go near a pig or poultry farm too:

I'll keep track of this here of course, but please stay informed folks. And also FU to any governments who will try to minimize this or try to diminish the severity until it's too late and community spread happens like Covid because their actions are influenced by capitalistic interests.

Update (April 7th, 2024, 9:32pm EST): to anyone wondering where some of the source information originates from -here is a link to the CDC. They are tracking documented avian virus outbreaks in the US and the public can access it here:

Understanding the Impact of Influenza A Virus in Hong Kong: A Comprehensive Overview

Introduction: Influenza A virus, a perennial health concern globally, has a significant impact on public health in Hong Kong. This respiratory virus, known for its ability to cause seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics, poses considerable challenges to healthcare systems, communities, and individuals. In this comprehensive blog, we delve into the nuances of influenza A virus in Hong Kong,…

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World Health Organization

MEDIA ADVISORY

NEW: COVID19 variant of interest JN.1

Geneva, 19 December 2023 -- Due to its rapidly increasing spread, WHO is classifying the variant JN.1 as a separate variant of interest (VOl) from the parent lineage BA.2.86. It was previously classified as VOl as part of BA.2.86 sublineages.

WHO advises people to take measures to prevent infections and severe disease using all available tools. These include:

-Wear a mask when in crowded, enclosed, or poorly ventilated areas, and keep a safe distance from others, as feasible

-Improve ventilation

-Practise respiratory etiquette - covering coughs and sneezes

-Clean your hands regularly

-Stay up to date with vaccinations against COVID-19 and influenza, especially if you are at high risk for severe disease

-Stay home if you are sick

-Get tested if you have symptoms, or if you might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or influenza

For health workers and health facilities, WHO advises:

-Universal masking in health facilities, as well as appropriate masking, respirators and other PPE for health workers caring for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients.

-Improve ventilation in health facilities

Image also has alt text embedded.

Reminder: For your own and family 's protection this holiday season, avoid the 3Cs in preventing the spread of #COVID and #influenza-like illnesses (#ILI): (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings) as #NCR's #Covid19 positivity rate rises to 22%; infections may peak ‘next week’ and the case fatality rate in the #Philippines in 2023 was 0.34% or 1 in 300 cases for severe and critical cases which constitute 22% of active Covid cases. — #OCTA via @iamguidodavid

Being a provider of medical care, we highly recommend getting the flu vaccine. Gaining immunization from the influenza virus provides many benefits. Read on to learn more.

HOW DOES YOUR BODY FIGHT RESPIRATORY VIRUSES?

Respiratory viruses are a common and diverse group of pathogens that can cause a range of illnesses, from mild colds to severe respiratory diseases. They are typically transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Common respiratory viruses include the rhinovirus, influenza virus, coronavirus (COVID-19), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The…

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Child Flu: How to Recognize, Treat, and Prevent

Child flu is a common but manageable concern for parents. Get updated information on how to recognize, treat, and prevent it. Learn about symptoms, home treatment, vaccination, myths, and more.

Child flu is more than just a simple cold and can be a frightening experience for both the child and the parents. With proper understanding of the symptoms, treatment, and preventive measures, this condition can be effectively managed. Symptoms of Child Flu Child flu symptoms may include: High fever Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Body aches Fatigue Headache Treatment Child flu…

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Ugggghhhhh canine influenza outbreak in the state, so of course now all the brands of the vaccines are on backorder 🙄

Will The Flu Shot Protect Me From This Year's Flu?

110925-N-SF704-056.jpg (Photo credit: Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet) Short answer: maybe, depending on your age. Full answer:  Every year the CDC estimates the effectiveness of the vaccine.  This year’s estimate is 62% (Complete study abstract below).  If you look at the Lancet meta-analysis of all the studies, the average effectiveness rate is 69%.  So we’re not doing well even by the CDC’s…

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Influenza H3N2 A Virus is a particularly contagious flu strain that has recently become very common in India. To prevent prolonged illness and promote a speedy recovery, it's critical to be aware of the symptoms of this virus and comprehend what steps must be done to deal with them immediately and appropriately.

Rich countries are all set to hoard bird flu vaccines that don't even exist yet Here we go again?Read more... https://qz.com/rich-countries-ready-to-hoard-bird-flu-vaccines-1850249631