The Deschutes County health department just announced, "We are seeing a surge in the number of people presenting to the medical system with influenza like symptoms" — followed by, "we will only be getting a portion of our expected flu vaccine."
Children are scheduled to be vaccinated through the schools on October 30, but that's still 14 days away. I've been trying to determine whether I can (or ought to) avoid all stores and other public places during that timeframe.
Are you all freaking out about it? My daughter has viral-induced asthma, so I am. A bit. My son is freaking out, too — not because of me, but because of conversations at school. Before he eats ANYTHING, even breakfast, he washes his hands.
So, so. So. I've been distracting myself by thinking about nouns. Nouns have hampered my ability to understand electricity. — Wait! Come back! Hear me out.
"Electricity" is a noun but what we mean by electricity is not a solid, touchable thing, the way you think a noun ought to be. The word "electricity" really describes electric current: an-electric-charge-flowing. It describes an electric charge in motion, the way the nouns "waterfall" or "river" describe water in motion. Or you could say that an electric charge in motion is an event-in-progress, like a song or a lecture.
An electric charge: too many or too few electrons: a state of unbalance. We sometimes say that something "has" an electric charge, but that's a misnomer. Something is electrically charged. It's unbalanced — and it would rather not be; it seeks balance. Often explosively. Rub your feet on the carpet and then touch a doorknob, and you'll see what I mean.
Swishing your feet on the carpet gives you an electric charge. You pick up too many electrons. When you scuff your feet and quick! touch a doorknob! then ZAP. Your extra electrons leap across space to bond with the metal knob. What leaps is the current.
So the flow of that-which-is-charged is an electric current, or electricity. Science books for kids often use a water/river metaphor to explain this concept, but I rather like comparing electricity with life. (Me and Deepak Chopra, right?)
Electricity: that-which-is-charged flowing in search of balance.
Life: that-which-is-alive moving toward...
Oh, great. Now I'm thinking about H1N1 again.
La la la, la la la.
Somebody tell a joke!
4 comments:
In a word? No.
The key phrase is "influenza like symptoms". That means anyone with a fever and a sore throat. I took my son to the doc today with those symptoms and he DOES NOT have flu (seasonal or H1N1). The doc was glad we came in, just to be safe. But he also said that there is a LOT of hype, and there hasn't been ONE positive flu case in their office.
We're not planning to vaccinate the kids. The doctor said he doesn't recommend vaccinating either.
BUT - if my kid had asthma or something like that? Yeah I would probably reconsider.
On the other hand... What do you get if you cross an elephant with a rhino?
(beat, beat)
Ellefino!
I was just at the MDs for a wellness visit and there were signs EVERYWHERE exclaiming people with flu-like symptoms should NOT go to the hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, the signs did not recommend an alternative course of action (lo, the need for risk communicators such as yours truly). Frankly, it conjured up visions of The Bodysnatchers.
They're finding it among young kids. Now, is that b/c young kids are more susceptible? Or just better vectors? (Adults don't typically hang out in as-large groups in similarly close quarters as found in classrooms.) If it's available in my area at a time when I have health coverage, I'm getting it.
I AM freaking out about it, but really? The Boy and I had suspected cases in the summer. The Baby and The Girl were IN THE SAME HOUSE as us and were fine.
The Girl DOES have asthma. We're getting her vaccinated as soon as it's available but in the meantime, my being scared won't keep her safer, right?
Scary times, my friend.
I AM freaking out about it, but really? The Boy and I had suspected cases in the summer. The Baby and The Girl were IN THE SAME HOUSE as us and were fine.
The Girl DOES have asthma. We're getting her vaccinated as soon as it's available but in the meantime, my being scared won't keep her safer, right?
Scary times, my friend.
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