This post is more about your health ( and flu) than faith. However, from my recent experience at Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), I know very well that your spirituality takes a hit if you are physically ill. Physical, mental and spiritual health cannot be separated, and are part of the whole you.
We need to do what we can to educate ourselves and pass that education to others. Who knows this may save a life.
…and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of mankind…
The Qur’an 5:32
We are in the midst of a significant flu season. All signs point to a more serious flu season than in recent years. It is currently more prevalent in the western states, especially California. There have been reported deaths of apparently younger people as well as older people with chronic illnesses.
Many hospitals have reported overcrowding of their emergency rooms with patients presenting with flu symptoms. More and more people are developing the symptoms that include fever, cough, sore throat and body aches.
As you know, flu can affect anyone, but it can be more serious in certain groups, such as those over 65 years of age, very young under 2 years old, and those with certain chronic conditions such as asthma, emphysema, heart conditions and immune-compromised patients (HIV, chemotherapy, transplant patients etc). This group of people are at higher risk for developing flu and having more serious illness.
This year H3N2 type seems to be the predominant strain, and is considered “more dangerous”, though not necessarily more lethal form. This year’s vaccine did include protection against this strain but it is considered partially effective. This past summer in Australia during the flu season (their winter), H3N2 was the predominant strain and vaccine was effective in 10% of the cases. We cannot be sure about the numbers in the USA as we are still in the middle of it, but it is being estimated as up to 30% effective.
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