Looks like we're getting there. Trying to find a direct link to some official data. Some hospitals are on diversion or bypass. What that means is they're getting slammed with too many patients or too many influenza patients and so they divert the ambulance to take them elsewhere. We could see very high hospital census.

[link to www.decodedscience.com]

So far it's the worst influenze outbreak in a decade. Boston is particularly hard hit. If you live there, be extra careful and try to do some social distancing. Listen carefully when at public events, and if you hear a lot of coughing and sneezing, leave. You want to think twice if you really need to be around, or if attending a concert wouldn't be better when the flu abates. Be careful even going to church. A lot of young parents might bring their kids when they really should stay at home.

Nosocomial infections are a serious concern during a pandemic. You've got a lot of contaminated air from flu patients and it could affect the weaker patients already in the medical center since the flu is so contagious. Watch for some headlines in your area discusses that. Usually those nosocomial infections are UTI, but now, it's anyone's guess.

A lot of hospitals have special respirators when a patient's lungs start shutting down and can't perfuse their tissues enough. The problem is contaminations of the respirator plus issues with deciding who get to use the limited number of respirators. They could COPD patients or cystic fibrosis kids or young adult and they'd be out of luck.

[link to www.ziyadnazem.info]

CDC Estimates Over 200,000 Will Be Hospitalized in 2013 Due to H3N2 Influenza Outbreak

"The 2013 flu season is forecasted to be a particularly harsh one due to the aggressive flu strain designated as H3N2 that is sweeping the nation and causing many to become hospitalized due to the symptoms. In a study conducted by the CDC, on average, more than 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized each year for respiratory and heart conditions illnesses associated with seasonal influenza virus infections. Further, considering the peak of the flu season occuring around February or March this year, we are likely to see a drastic increase of flu victims as this relentless flu continues to wreak havoc."