The CDC says I should presume my kids have swine flu (plus graph update)
Sophie rests with her mom
Sammy, sick with the flu, rests on the couch
My daughter, Sophie, who turns two in September, woke up on Sunday morning with a 101-degree temperature, low energy, runny nose, and a cough. This was the return of a fever she had beaten a week before.
A day later, on Monday evening, my son Sammy (who turns four in September), began exhibiting the same symptoms.
I kept them home with me on Tuesday and again today. We have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon. In the meantime, we’re treating with Tylenol, lots of fluids, rest, and applesauce.
News reports keep quoting CDC officials in saying that we’re well over a million cases of swine flu. But at the official CDC site, there’s still zero data or statement I can find to support that. More recently, the WHO is being quoted as saying that any flu or fever at this time of year can be presumed to be swine flu. This LA Times article (“Just assume it’s swine flu”) is representative, and also suggests that the WHO may discontinue their ongoing reports with the official cases. But at the WHO’s official H1N1 site, again, there is absolutely nothing to support the statements being made to the press.
So, do my children have swine flu? They’re suffering from classic flu and fever symptoms — if anything, milder than what they’ve experienced in the past. But summer flu is not unheard of, so it’s not a given that it’s swine flu.
The latest official H1N1 WHO update, #58, from July 6, reveals 94,512 confirmed cases, from 135 countries, with 429 fatal cases (for a fatality rate of 0.5%). While there was a levelling off between updates 57 and 58, prior to that the number of new cases per week has indeed again doubled, to over 30,000. At this point, if this data means anything, the number of confirmed cases does appear to be approximately doubling in a two week period.
But I find it disheartening to see the massive disconnect between statements made to the press by the CDC and WHO versus what they make available at their own sites. Why even keep up this pretense of the “official” count with ongoing updates if it’s all meaningless?
Official WHO data showing H1N1 (swine flu) case data, including number of cases, deaths, and cases per day. (Click to enlarge.)
July 8th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Kira says, “I want them to get better! What should I give them. Hey, those are the pajamas we got for Sophie. What should we get for Sammy? I don’t know. I think we should give him a rocket ship and a kiss. Goodbye.”
July 8th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Ah, thanks Kira! We love you!
July 9th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Hope they will feel better soon. They are beautfiul
July 10th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Thank you Barbara! Hope all of you are doing okay out there in the summer heat!
July 8th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Get well soon Sammy & Sophie, being sick during summer is a drag!
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July 8th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Thanks Carl. They’re both sick of being sick.
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July 8th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
That’s because being sick sucks!
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July 8th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Poor kids. Keep us posted on how the doctors appointment goes and how they are doing.
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July 8th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Hope your kids get well soon.
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July 8th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Thanks all! Will do.
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July 8th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
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July 8th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Just got back from the doctor. Not bacterial, not pneumonia, probably not swine flu "but it doesn’t matter either way" (more about that when I post a blog update), probably going to be sick for 2-3 more days. Their temperatures are up and they both look so pathetic right now. Guess I’m gonna be house-bound with them for a while longer.
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July 8th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
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July 8th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
My daughter has got it. Keep an eye out for the hacking cough & chest infection, its horrible
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July 8th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Thanks Josh and Mel. I’m pretty sure it’s NOT swine flu, and the Tylenol is definitely helping. They’re both asleep now. Phew!
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July 8th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Aw, poor sick kiddies. Hope they feel better soon.
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