Perspective

With everyone freaking out about Swine Flu, it may be oddly comforting to know that 36,000 people in the US die each year from regular flu.

The number of deaths caused by influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the United States per year is substantially higher than previously estimated, according to a Jan 7, 2003, news release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Using improved statistical models, CDC researchers estimate that an average of 36,000 people die from complications of influenza each year, compared to a previous estimate of 20,000. Another 11,000 people per year die from RSV, which causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections, primarily in young children and older adults. Researchers believe that the aging US population and the circulation of influenza A, the most virulent strain in recent years, are among the reasons for this increase.

The report, by the way, is from 2003 and not something issued to get people to climb down from today's hysteria.

Swine flu news

I think I may have to "unfollow" BreakingNews on Twitter. These are the "tweets" I saw when I opened up TweetDeck this morning...I'm thinking it's a good idea to short airline stocks today.

Speaking of airlines...think anyone would be offended if I boarded my flight for San Francisco today in self-contained bubble?

Yeesh...this is getting a little disconcerting.