It seems that the H7N9 outbreak in China is now airborne (source:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-05-23/chinas-bird-flu-goes-airborne), though the Chinese government is saying that the epidemic is under control. No new cases have been reported since earlier this month, though it is possible that people may be infected and not realize it, or cases have not been reported for a variety of reasons. It also appears that pigs can become infected, which is not good news. This increases the chance that the virus could mingle with other strains creating a deadlier, more contagious strain. There is no vaccine or cure available at this time.
If you remember (and how could you not?), this years flu season was exceptionally bad, causing a higher than normal rate of fatalities. I believe that it will return again this winter and may be worse than last years, and perhaps contribute to a pandemic, though it appears to have not spread far outside of the U.S. or caused as many problems for the international community as it did here. Although the flu vaccination this past season was embarrassingly ineffective, I think people should still consider getting it before the next wave. It never hurts to be prepared and I myself may consider getting the flu shot, though I believe I may be protected from infection. This previous flu came earlier then usual, lasted longer then usual and was fiercer than usual (much like our recent freak weather conditions). Numerous people were hospitalised and deaths were already being reported early into the epidemic. I still believe that there was a cover up on the severity of the outbreak from the federal and state health authorities. At the time, I wondered if we might not be looking at another 1918-1919 like pandemic. I am still not sure, that we shouldn't expect a similar scenario.
The authorities were pushing for people to get the vaccine, which turned out to only be 9-60% effective. I myself believe in vaccines, but did not get the chance to get this cycles inoculation, which I think was mostly to comfort people into a false sense of protection. The last season saw outbreaks of Influenza types A and B, H3N2 (the problematic strain) and possibly H1N1. One of the strains had already been labeled "pandemic". In public you would see people wearing gloves and face masks in order to protect themselves from contagion. Though most masks DO NOT protect against Influenza-they may even increase your chances of getting it, by altering the way you breath causing you to take deeper breaths. The fibers of most masks are not designed to keep out microbes as small as flu particles.
Recently there was what appeared to be an outbreak of respiratory illness in Alabama, however according to ABC News (
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/alabama-mystery-illness-solved-chalked-cold-flu/story?id=19249261) the outbreak was coincidental and were a mix of common cold and flu rather than Bird Flu or the new corona virus strain. Saudi Arabia has
announced another person infected with the SARS like virus. The virus is probably able to spread from person-to-person.
As of 12:37 P.M. CST there does not appear to be any severe weather warnings for Oklahoma, though in the Norman area there was a grey over cast that implied rain is possible.
