Do you know how bad this flu thing in Oklahoma is?

[AnniePokely]

I didn't. I knew i had heard of alot of people getting sick, but NOTHING like what i found out tonight.

I had to take Holly (step daughter) to the ER tonight for 103 plus fever, chills, hot flashes, etc..

The doctor here in Clinton is from Baptist. He said the state of Oklahoma is in "Epidemic warning" and to get in this hospital, there is a waiting list. A list that can go up to ten days. He said if you are critical, they could take you, but chances are a helicopter would fly you to somewhere in Kansas..???? They have cancelled non emergency surgeries here because of it. He said even Baptist Hospital in OKC has patients coming in that they don't have rooms for. People in halls on occasion, waiting on rooms. That's going on all over the state of Oklahoma. He said there are seven strains to this virus. The throwing up/other end that i had last weekend is one of them. The one Holly has is the respiratory, and there is absolutely nothing they can do for her. Had they caught it before it was full blown, they would have given her tamiflu. They did give us tamiflu for the kids, b/c he said it is HIGHLY contagious. He turned to me and asked me how i was feeling... I told him i was ok, but i thought they had it really HOT in there. He asked me "did you drive her down here?" and i said yes. He said "Well, you'll probably end up sick. You look like you're getting it." Greeeaaaat! I've been burning up all night. Just really tired and HOT.

Anyway, i didn't realize it was as bad as it is. We don't even have anyone working with us b/c they're all sick.

[osujane]

Take care of yourself and I hope Holly starts feeling better soon.

I know it can take up to 2-3 weeks in some cases. Double ugh! :(

[MemphisPoke]

Damn AP. I know we have had some of it over here but nothing like you are describing there.

Take care of yourself and your family. I feel for ya'.

[Pokit N]

My mom was telling me that it was pretty bad in OK, but I didn't realize it was that bad. Kinda Scary to here to you talk about it. Take Care.

[allie]

i have gotten conflicting reports on the hospital here. One person who works there says it is not really full, only full to the extent they have nurses to work, which was nineteen beds. another says it is all the way full. Truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

oddly, there don't seem to be as many kids gone from the schools as there has been in past years when the waves of sick come. i remember times when my girls would have 8 or 9 gone from a classroom of 20. However, we had an academic meet sat and had a couple towns bug out because everyone was sick. i have known a couple people diagnosed with the flu through testing that didn't even feel bad really, just a runny nose and sore throat. There are probably people walking around spreading it like crazy since they don't feel that bad.

[PokesFanatic]

At one point, here in Kentucky, they were shutting down the schools in the area with something like 70% of the kids out with the flu.

This most definitely is an epidemic flu year. Like Annie said, there are 7 different strains this year and the flu shot that normally protects people against 80% or so of the virulent strains only protected against half that many this year.

I think what we're seeing is a more rapidly mutating flu outbreak year-after-year. I hope it doesn't do this again next year. It could eventually reall wreak some economic havoc if it does.

[AggieSpice]

it's been upper respiritory crap and bronchitis in my office. it's sounded like a TB ward in hear for the last couple of weeks. with the ice storm and all the sickness going around i simply can't WAIT for this freaking winter to be over!!!