So, I’ve been hearing more about suspected cases of H1N1 A flu virus near me in Michigan. I have also heard that another nearby county is closing down public schools for the week for it.

For those who know that I’m out here in Michigan right now, I just wanted to assure everyone that my chances of being exposed to Swine flu, or any variant of flu in general, is actually fairly low. Also, although I am a “young person” by definition of the words, the very fact that I have a weakened immune system possibly puts me at less risk than most.

Although, five years ago I had to go into the hospital for normal flu.

Stuff is keen out here. Everyone should understand the H1N1 epidemic is at phase 5 (confirmed human to human contagion, in multiple countries. Link to phases.) So the closures of schools and attempts at reducing overall coverage is an elemental first step into helping control the spread.

Stay clean. Wash your hands. Avoid touching your face while in public. You can do your part to help slow this thing down.

Just a reminder: Flu season

People may not think on it much, but heart-failure patients like myself are constantly keenly reminded of our own mortality come doctor’s visits—and especially flu season. So when this time of year starts rolling around, and people haven’t gotten their flu shots… Well, notice gets made.

It’s not just that I have to wade through all of my conspiracy theory friends who expect that the flu shots have some sort of alien or shadow-government hand on our throats. But, influenza is something of a annual problem, and it’s hotspots can be bad.

Worse, the illness can put those of us with little or no immune system in the hospital quicker than anything.

Oh yeah, and Google has released a wacky little app that tracks flu trends, who saw that coming?

http://www.google.org/flutrends/

No, it is not called Flugle. One good thing that it does do, however, is throw up listings of flu vaccine locations.