Flu Season Starting… Now?

The Inquirer today lets us know we haven’t survived flu season yet! Apparently it’s “just now kicking in after a late start.” Fortunately, though, New Jersey is hit harder than Pennsylvania, apparently.

But, most importantly, we learn of yet another reason to want to destroy Penn: A video encouraging people to get flu shots. According to the story, it’s the biggest breakthrough in flu shots in years, or something.

Hospital tries doo-wop to push flu shots [Inquirer]

Coming This Winter: SEPTA Flu

If you’ve noticed, everyone seems to be sick (with bad colds) quite early this year. Or maybe that’s just me. But a local doctor tells KYW 1060 the answer: It’s all SEPTA’s fault.

Mass transit ridership is up because gas is not only $50 a gallon but nobody has any money anymore, having been laid off by Lehman Brothers or something. Well, Dr. Kathleen Squires says blame SEPTA — or, rather, the number of people on SEPTA — for the upcoming epidemic of the flu this winter:

“Any time that people are in crowded conditions and in close contact there is always a chance to spread colds viruses and influenza.”

The good news she says is that simple hand washing and getting a flu shot can help cut your risk significantly since this year’s vaccine is different and covers three new strains of the virus. What if you just keep your cold weather gloves on while riding mass transit?

“I wouldn’t necessarily encourage that we all go around wearing gloves, but remember that if you cough into the glove and then touch a surface, whatever is on the glove can be transmitted to that surface.”

Oh, just wait ’til the media hops on the “SEPTA flu” bandwagon in a few months. It’ll be great.

Local Dr. Links Flu Cases to Crowdedness on Mass Transit [KYW 1060]
Photo by qilin, Creative Commons license

Peter The Great To Aid Flu-Ridden Flyers?

Although the Flyers were coming off a 22-60 season, the worst in their history, a couple people thought they might be able to sneak into the playoffs this year if they caught a few good bounces. Instead, the Flyers are first in the division and only three points back of first-place Ottawa.

Now comes the news the team will get Peter “Foppa” Forsberg back if he feels he’s healthy enough to return. Yes, the dreamy blue-eyed Swede could be returning to break the hearts of all the women in South Jersey and Northeast Philly.

Forsberg (at right, apparently getting ready to chase after some birds) played with the Flyers for 2 1/2 years before the club shipped him off to Nashville. The Flyers could definitely use him right now, as they all have the flu right now.

Photo by Markus Sandin, licensed via Creative Commons

Leftovers: McNabb To Return In Next [x] Months

• Donovan McNabb underwent surgery for his torn ACL yesterday, and here’s the Associated Press’ lead: “Donovan McNabb could miss as much as a year or could be ready for the 2007 season opener after having surgery yesterday to repair a torn knee ligament.” Or, perhaps, he could die from complications, or return tomorrow and lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl. [AP/Toronto Star]

• And another awesome AP lead, from Bethlehem, Pa.: “A man serving life without parole for stabbing his neighbor more than 80 times with a samurai sword and setting the victim’s clothes on fire was awarded $1 by a federal jury that ruled five of the officers arresting him used excessive force.” [AP/Philly.com]

• Good news: There are lots of flu vaccines this year. Bad news: There are so many, there will probably be a shortage next year. Aye. [Bucks County Courier Times]

• And the Philly Future comment of the century: “Oh… the ‘papers’ are going on strike? Thank God for the Evening Bulletin!” [Philly Future]