https://previews.123rf.com/images/drmicrobe/drmicrobe1803/drmicrobe180300208/97984140-mers-virus-meadle-east-respiratory-syndrome-coronovirus-3d-illustration.jpg    With thanks to USA Today and Kurt Snibbe of the Southern California News Group, some facts and figures to remind us that, we can, indeed, weather this…

After all, we’re in this together, so should stick together, follow all guidelines and stop pointing figures, playing the blame game, and the “I could have handled things better” mentality.

But enough… Here are the CDC’s U.S. year-by-year influenza facts:

  • 2010-11: 21 million illnesses, 290,000 hospitalizations, and 37,000 deaths
  • 2011-12: 9.3 million illnesses,140,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 deaths
  • 2012-13: 34 million illnesses, 570,000 hospitalizations, and 48,000 deaths
  • 2013-14: 30 million illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations, and 38,000 deaths
  • 2014-15: 30 million illnesses, 590,000 hospitalizations, and 51,000 deaths
  • 2015-16: 24 million illnesses, 280,000 hospitalizations, and 23,000 deaths
  • 2016-17: 29 million illnesses, 497,000 hospitalizations, and 33,000 deaths
  • 2017-18: 45 million illnesses, 810,000 hospitalizations, and 61,000 deaths

This time around in 2019-20, it’s estimated that between 20,000 and 52,000 Americans have died as a result of the flu already.

And now on to previous pandemics and the coronavirus, aka COVID-19, in the U.S & the world.:

  • 1918-19 Spanish flu: more than 50 million deaths worldwide; 675,000 deaths in the U.S.
  • 1957-58 Asian flu: one to 2 million deaths worldwide; 70,000 deaths in the U.S.
  • 1968-69 Hong Kong flu: 1.1 million deaths worldwide; 33,800 deaths in the u.S.
  • 2009-10 Swine flu: 575,000 deaths worldwide; 11,690 deaths in the U.S.
  • 2019-20 COVID-19 to date: 7,100 deaths worldwide; 88 deaths in the U.S.

And finally, the CDC’s “Germ Hot Spots & how highly contaminated each is:

  • Gas pump handles: 71%
  • Mailbox handles: 68%
  • Escalator hand rails: 43%
  • ATM buttons: 41%
  • Parking meters & kiosks: 40%
  • Crosswalk & vending machine buttons: 35%

Bottom line: Follow the CDC and government guidelines, stay home except for essential errands/missions, washing hands like crazy and using hand sanitizer and wipes with at least 60% alcohol, and so on.

With thanks to USA Today, Kurt Snibbe, the CDC, and all who are out there working hard on our behalf, Carol