My Friend Ivan Explains

Most deaths from illness occur during the night when the body's defenses are at its lowest to fight stress, ie; the fight and flight reflex. Corticosteroid levels are at their lowest. So the stress the flu does put on the body is very consequential.

In addition MOST people DO NOT die of the flu but rather from secondary causes. Most of the secondary causes are bacterial pneumonia, ARDS, asthma, COPD, spesis , DIC, and not to name a few. The available antivirals have SOFT evidence to say that they lessen the severity or the course. There really is no clear hard evidence. Most attention for taking care of those affected by the flu is to take care of the secondary effects and infections. People at risk, or those with compromised pulmonary function or immune systems should be monitored closely.

One reason why this flu will spread is because it is one of the types of influenza A for which we dont have a vaccine. The CDC would be able to develop one shortly if a pandemic occurs. Influenza A virus of all types are know for mutating which is why we have a flu season yearly and a different manufactured vaccine. If we predicted this flu typ and were vaccinated against it we would not have the pandemic occur.

BTW most people who died in 1918 in the pandemic died of secondary causes. We did not have the antibiotics available to treat the pneumonias. Using lymphatic pumping was the only thing we really had.

So in the end you are both partially right and I hope the above clears things up. DONT GO TO THE STATE FAIR JUST YET. (lol)

Ivan