Like@19 for posting journal ref. Its math is well beyond us, but this is what I like. Viral evolution is crazy fast, and influenza fast among them. Quite a trick, as by strict definitions virus are not even 'alive'. They are certainly alive if you redefine organism to include a large number of loosely interacting animals, not necessarily all of the same species, through which viral 'blueprints' circulate. And (effectively) edit themselves according to which ones make more copies of themselves. So we'd do well to keep an open mind about definitions in biology, etc. Tequila might help there.
I actually have not been in British Columbia since they started requiring a passport to cross the border. But last time I was there, seemed like all the cashiers in all the stores wore nitrile gloves -- and a fair number of people were wearing surgical masks. Of course, I tend to frequent the seedier parts of any town I visit!
Yeah, if you come to with all these people standing over you with nitrile gloves, you know they're about to change your oil.
Head cold started Thursday late. Disturbed sleep last night and the usual runny nose and sore throat. Worked till noon and then the fatigue and malaise hit hard. I reschedule my Friday afternoon appointments to Monday and went home. A nap helped but it is a cold. The weekend is here and I don't have any 'must do' tasks other than amuse my wife. She gets to play nurse . . . our favorite game. Bob Wilson
From Influenza prevented by 40 ng levels or treated with vitamin D hammer (50,000 IU) – June 2015 | Vitamin D Wiki : "A colleague of mine and I have introduced vitamin D at doses that have achieved greater than 100 nmol/L in most of our patients for the past number of years, and we now see very few patients in our clinics with the flu or influenzalike illness. In those patients who do have influenza, we have treated them with the vitamin D hammer, as coined by my colleague. This is a 1-time 50 000 IU dose of vitamin D3 or 10 000 IU 3 times daily for 2 to 3 days. The results are dramatic, with complete resolution of symptoms in 48 to 72 hours. One-time doses of vitamin D at this level have been used safely and have never been shown to be toxic. We urgently need a study of this intervention. The cost of vitamin D is about a penny for 1000 IU, so this treatment costs less than a dollar." To convert nmol/L to ng/ml, divide by 2.5. The ng/ml measure is used in the US, where nmol/L is used everywhere else. A blood level of 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L) is recommended by GrassRootsHealth.net for best immune function. I think they're too conservative, but that's what the current research supports. Some doctors use double that level for treatment/prevention of quite a variety of conditions, including influenza.
My sympathies.... I recommend: Hot Toddy Recipe - Allrecipes.com Nothing beats the Black Jack for the active ingredient...... I usually prefer: 2-4oz JD, 2 TBS Local (raw) honey 2-4 TBS Lemon Juice Heated, of course and repeat as necessary. Good Luck!
Flu season begins in the sense that (US) quad vaccine has been manufactured and distributed. Not in the sense of incidence or morbidity (both still tiny). CDC would have you make your decision in October. Influenza (Flu) | CDC
I saw that too but feel uneasy about it. My understanding the antibodies peak 3-4 weeks after inoculation and then decays. But there is a 2 week delay in the tracking data. I am thinking local climate, temperature and precipitation might be a better trigger. When weather suggests more indoors activities that may be a better threshold. In my case, I need to lead and bring Holly's vaccination within a week. I am the one in the population and need to be her 'great wall.' Bob Wilson
I get my flu shot in two weeks, given free by my employer. Many employees (if not most) choose not to inoculate. If I understand correctly, unless one has an egg allergy, there is very little risk associated. I sign up every year.
After age 65, you get the 'big shot' that has the same discomfort and side effects as the original. I didn't know it until I got mine last year. Not fun but s*cks less than the real flu. Bob Wilson
Influenza viruses are variable and very dynamic in two important protein groups. Limiting science as much as possible, these are H and N. You have heard of H5N1 (etc.). Current vaccine has 4 'flavors'. Other folks are heading in another direction., basing vaccines on parts of viral genome that is not variable. As such, could lead to a universal, stable flu vaccine. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160930085814.htm
