There's a new theory that some of the deaths in 1918 (they really have no idea how many) were actually caused by an overdose of aspirin, which was the new wonder drug at the time and the safe dosages hadn't really been worked out yet. And the symptoms of aspirin overdose look pretty similar to the flu, so if someone who already had the flu started getting them, it would be kind of hard to tell. [link]

Hil, best of luck with the PT. It definitely sounds like a good idea to ask about a cane/crutches. You can find prettier canes! [link] But crutches are better for supporting knees. See what your PT thinks.

H1N1 is killing people here too, although in smaller numbers than in the US, I believe. I'm certain that those numbers will drop if people 'at risk' take up the vaccine (apparently it's just arrived with GPs - I was wrong about it being available before). I still don't know if I'd have it, given the speed at which it's been released. Fortunately, I've had H1N1 (that was two weeks of much fun).

Cinnamon pop tarts

I've finally set up my tea machine in the study. This is going to increase productivity about 300% (as soon as I get off the internet and do some work). Today's selection: Darjeeling, brought back for me from India by someone who claims it's the brand the cricketers drink. It's good.

Speaking of the black death, I'm in the middle of The Black Death: A Personal History. It shows the effect of the plague and the associated hysteria and social chaos through the lens of a small village in Suffolk. It's pretty good for something that's neither fish nor fowl—neither entirely a scholarly discussion nor a novel, but a bit of both.

Mmmm, tea. I just finished my espresso so that is a theoretical Mmmm.

My son Brendon is home sick today. He was feeling awful when I picked him up from bowling yesterday. This morning he is still headachy. No fever. He was cold and clammy yesterday and this morning too. He just missed his car pool, so I expect he'll be feeling better soon.

We haven't had the flu shots yet. I haven't had one since the 60s. I'm going to let my doctor make the decision. Thing is my boys are both in HS which is a very touchy feely germy environment. DH and I spend most of our time in doctors offices which are also very germy places. So vaccination will likely happen.

I did have the seasonal flu shot this year, and for the first time, had a nasty reaction to it. 'Nasty' being very much relative, of course.

I think I'd much rather have mild flu-like symptoms for 36 hours than be knocked off my feet for a full week (which is what happened when I had the flu several years ago).

Speaking of the black death, I'm in the middle of The Black Death: A Personal History.

Ooo. A new-to-me book on the Black Death. Okay, I'm a bit obsessed with epidemic disease. The demise of the 1918 flu strain is probably a case of the fact it's not in a disease's survival interest to be too lethal, and the influenza virus is hugely adaptable. For example, to become really scary, Ebola would have to become less lethal. It's apparently been around for years, but it would kill off an entire village before anyone could get to the next village, then go back to living in its mysterious animal host.

Black Death! One third of Europe: dead.

For sheer numbers, you really need a worldwide pandemic. In India, for example, the 1918 flu killed about 10 percent of the population.

The demise of the 1918 flu strain is probably a case of the fact it's not in a disease's survival interest to be too lethal

It depends on the disease. There are infections that spread better after the death of the host, e.g. if spread by scavengers or getting into water sources via bodily decay.

Not the case for flu, of course.

As a side note, I watched a film called Doomsday this past weekend. It was about a viral epidemic. It was sort of a cross between 28 Days Later, Escape from New York and The Road Warrior. No real epidemeology but it did include the Younger Pertwee getting roasted and eaten by vicious Scots.

The 1976 swine flu vaccine caused one unusual side effect: an increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which, while dreadful, is usually not fatal. Each year, approximately 1 out of every 100,000 people in the U.S. come down with Guillain-Barré. Its cause is not fully known, but it seems to be related to severe infections. Experts estimate that an additional 1 out every 100,000 people who received the 1976 vaccine were diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. The vaccine did protect people against that strain of flu; the effort became a political nightmare because the flu did not reach the epidemic proportions predicted.

The 1976 vaccine resulted in 25 fatalities. So far this year, the current H1N1 strain has already killed over 100 people in the US alone, and over 5000 worldwide. Mostly kids. Get a fucking flu shot.

Relatedly, my flu shot arm is achey. Boo.