CDC SUDDENLY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT FLU, AS IT SHOULD HAVE
Oops. That’s what you say when you screw something up, but it’s not that big of a deal. Or, it’s an understatement when you have seriously screwed the pooch and animal services get called. This oops is more of the latter. The Center for Disease Control’s January special session was last week. The special session was supposed to have been advising Americans about what they should do if there was a nuclear war. Yes, you read that right. But, and despite recent events in North Korea and Hawaii, the special session has been changed to focus on…… um, the flu season. Way to go, CDC!
FLU SEASON IS AN ACTUAL THREAT, BUT NO APOCALYPSE
Yes, yes, I get it. It’s a particularly bad flu season. The CDC’s Influenza Summary Update map shows that the flu is widespread in every continental state. Yes, I know about the really bad strain of influenza A H3N2, which has had a scary impact on young children and people over the age of 65. I’m a parent and have been dealing with the flu for the last week. But I’ve been dealing with bullshit a bit longer. The special session should have always been dedicated to this year’s flu season. Obviously.
CDC SUDDENLY SWITCHED FOCUS AWAY FROM COLD WAR RE-ENACTMENT TO…. FLU
So, the special session focused on actual health concerns regarding the flu. It focused on giving health professionals info on how to limit the flu’s spread and antiviral meds shortages. That seems to be what it should be. No pooch in sight. No one calling animal services. But why the change? Suddenly the threat of a nuclear holocaust disappeared? The CDC isn’t commenting. Was it because the nuclear apocalypse special session was getting publicity? The CDC is specifically not saying. Did the White House weigh in on making the change? Don’t ask.
CDC WAS TO HAVE ADVISED HOW TO SURVIVE RADIATION, HOW TO HIDE
But let’s do have a look at what the event almost was. It was titled “Public Health response to a Nuclear Detonation.” Some of special topics were “Preparing for the Unthinkable,” “Roadmap to Radiation Preparedness,” and “Public Health resources to Meet Critical Components of Preparedness.” It almost makes you want to dive under a desk when the air raid alarm goes off, right? But the special session was to have stoked even more fear. Officials from the CDC were also to have advised management of services after a nuclear blast. And let’s not forget how to hide strategically from nuclear fallout.
LOOK OVER THERE! IT’S THE FLU! WHO KNEW?
It’s a good thing news about North Korea has been put back on the back burner the last week or so. But then there’s that whole false alarm in Hawaii of an incoming missile attack. What the hell was that about? Why are nukes suddenly, sort of, a major threat again? It’s almost like politics is playing some kind of role, or something. So beware: Armageddon is back! Or maybe not. So let’s talk about the flu.
