Cathy's Critters – stuff we do out here

April and her reading buddy

Ok, I understand concern and caution, but can we get a little perspective here?

Fifty-three children have died this year due to normal strains of the flu.  The victim was 22 months old and, according to the Centers for Disease Control, had “underlying health issues”, which I take to mean he was especially vulnerable to the virus because of a weakened immune system.

Strong healthy kids and adults do not die from the flu.  They get achy, sniffly, and rotten-feeling and go to bed to sweat it out.  Vulnerable babies and the elderly should be kept away from high-risk areas, but the measures our state and city leaders are taking are more likely “CYA” actions designed to deflect the charge that they “don’t care” or “aren’t doing anything to help”, and will probably make matters worse rather than better.

Take Fort Worth, for example.  School’s out for a week.  Where are those kids going to go?  How about a fun family DART rail ride downtown to do some sight-seeing or go to the zoo?  A little shopping at the mall?  Do we really think the families are going to keep their kids locked in their sterile rooms with plastic wrap over the windows to keep germs out?  I kind of doubt that the “real world” is any less a breeding ground for flu virus than the classroom.

Maybe rather than putting school for the entire city’s children on hold, it would make sense to offer a one-time, one-week dispensation during which concerned parents could keep their kids out.

Are you aware that in 1976 we had a similar panic over swine flu?  Here’s a recap:

Feb 20, 1976:  US set on code red alert for swine flu epidemic

Mar 25, 1976:  President Ford urges “Flu Campaign” to innoculate entire US at a cost of $135 Million dollars (adjusted for inflation, that would be about $500 Million dollars today).

April 10, 1976:  Congress authorizes the $135 Million to develop and distribute the vaccine.

May 21, 1976:  Lab in Manhattan begins developing the vaccine.  (Another “Manhattan project”?)

Oct 13, 1976:  Flu vaccination program halted after 3 people die from the vaccine.

Nov 24, 1976:  Person who had the particular strain of flu quoted as saying “I was back at work in a week.  The regular flu was worse!”

Dec 17, 1976:  94 Cases of paralysis blamed on flu shots.  Vaccination program halted.

By November of 1976, there were $2.64 Billion in damages claims against the federal government.

In October of 1980 is was reported that the government would destroy the remaining $49 Million worth of vaccine.

I’m not going to ask you to hope that our leaders are wiser than the last generation’s, because that would be naive.  Our “leaders” are more concerned about their own careers and image than about the health of the community.  The national and international organizations that are funded by the US government and the United Nations are not likely to temper their rhetoric when it’s exactly this kind of moment that justifies their existence.  As expressed by Rahm Emmanuel:  “Never let a serious crisis go to waste”.

Just a reminder to keep things in perspective…

Thanks for listening,

Kevin Smith

Cathy’s Critters