Oh poor Zen. I hope its nothing more than a cold. My coworkers have been dropping like flies and running 102+ fevers.

My wife's been in bed for the last 2 days and today looks like it will be another one. 103 fever last night. At this point, I'm thinking it's the flu. I'm sleeping on the floor in my sons room, which is not very comfortable. Really hope the rest of us don't get sick. It's a nasty one.

*washes hands again*

I read recently that the flu pandemic of 1918 killed more people than the Black Plague.

Well there were more people to kill in 1918.

Not to mention a more mobile and interconnected world.

... that was already stressed by WWI ...

The flu kills several hundred thousand people per year every year.

We're just a mutation away from another 1918 'flu pandemic.
Get your 'flu shots (every year)!

Should you get a flu shot if you currently have a cold? Or does that risk screwing up your immune system?

I was at a scout leadership meeting last night, and out of 10 adults, 3 of them were just getting over the flu, and one was absent because she and her only child both had the flu. It's dropping folks like flies here in Arlington. 3-4 days in bed before being well enough to be shuffling weakly around. My wife is finally among the living and is talking about possibly taking a shower today after 3 days in bed.

I'm a bit nervous about getting this flu, but have lingering cold symptoms from a cold I got about a week ago. Is it dumb to be looking for a shot right now?

Would you feel better if it was called a 'hot' when you caught one in the summer?

I'm not fully sold on flu shots. I am a firm believer in avoiding the food at hippy pot lucks and any type of event where your snotty nosed kids are grabbing food after eating the boogers from their fingers. That's my #1 prescription for health.

Just wash your hands and avoid being infirm, very young or elderly.

And I never leave my plastic bubble.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe_(1995_film)

And don't touch your eyes or your nose if you haven't just washed your hands.

I was doing them religiously at work for years because they are free, but then I hardened my heart against them. Now I'm wondering about the wisdom of that.

This is what my commute is like twice a day:
Attachment 42391

Don't know if that makes me healthier or less healthy. My immune system is exposed to a lot.

Yeah, um, I did just get back from a week long hippy festival out in the bush. Now, I specifically didn't go to the kissing workshop, but I did [mumble, cough, mumble] with a woman who did. She's fine, flu-wise, now. Then there was new years eve/night in the chai tent...