Potassium iodide.  I know it’s not the flu, but a number of my colleagues thought that the audio I posted about KI on the UTMC Emergency Medicine website was relevant.  Considering the horrific events in Japan and the anxious hoarding of KI by some Americans, I can’t disagree.  So if you’re interested go to:

https://rocketcare.utoledo.edu/disastermedicine/

It’s dated March 24.

The information comes from the CDC website and there is a link for more information.

Although flu season isn’t officially finis, the indicators coming from CDC suggest that flu activity has generally decreased.  If anything changes, we’ll post here.  In the meantime, the hopes and prayers will continue to flow from here to Japan. (PPR)

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/?source=govdelivery

During week 9 (February 27-March 5, 2011), influenza activity in the United States decreased.

• Of the 7,556 specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division, 1,869 (24.7%) were positive for influenza.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold for the sixth consecutive week.
• Five influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported bringing the season total to 60. Three of these deaths were associated with an influenza B virus and two were associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was not determined.
• The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 3.1%, which is above the national baseline of 2.5%. Eight of the 10 regions (Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10) reported ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels. Ten states experienced high ILI activity; 12 states experienced moderate ILI activity; nine states experienced low ILI activity; 19 states and New York City experienced minimal ILI activity, and the District of Columbia had insufficient data.
• The geographic spread of influenza in 39 states was reported as widespread; nine states reported regional influenza activity; the District of Columbia and two states reported local influenza activity; Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported sporadic influenza activity, and Puerto Rico did not report.