The California Flu

[terified girl]

Has anyone heard of it? Supposedly my brother said that there are a few people who have the same thing like my mom, the dizziness and vomiting because of the dizziness and headaches, and I just heard of 2 more people who have it, and now I am worried.


So if anyone has caught wind of it, I'd love to hear more about it.


Thanks!

[stella9]

I have not heard of the California flu, but I know that the gastro
thing has been going around just about everywhere since October of
2004. It seems as though influenza has been quiet this year
except for about three weeks. It never really amounted to
anything. The sv has been extremely strong and does not want to
die out. The symptoms vary but the general sickness is about the
same - in the gut.



I hope that this virus begins to die out as we get closer to spring, but so far it is not happening.



Stella

[jptk]

over here(ireland) there is a virus they called winter vomiting virus(origional name eh?) anyway, its usually found in the hospitals and they even closed wings in the hospital to avoid outbreak. scary stuff[img]smileys/smilies_10.gif[/img]

[ontariogirl]

I have heard of that flu on the news!! It is a upper resp. virus. Starts out with the dizziness, headaches, the headaches can be with worst pain which can make you vomit, than you start having the sore throat, the coughing, your chest becomes congested, I heard that the California flu has it some people in Toronto. I cant remember which newscast but the person who had done the story came down with it to, knocked her on her butt for 5 days. I will try to find out what news station for you.

[terified girl]

Thank you Ontario Girl....


I live in montreal and my brother lives in Ottawa and so far it's mostly headaches dizziness and then the vomitting.....


Thanks for all the info you can get for me, we are really worried here.


Again thank you!

[ontariogirl]

From the TV news in Toronto
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So you did everything right this year – you got vaccinated, you stayed healthy and you got enough rest. And you still ended up with a raging case of the flu.

What happened? You struck gold in California. As in the California flu. The new influenza strain has hit the G.T.A. with a vengeance, and it’s proving especially devastating because it wasn’t specifically contained in this year’s vaccine.

Researchers suspect it’s an offshoot of the Fijian flu. And those who’ve suffered through it can tell you it’s not a pleasant experience.

"It was like a brick wall hit you,” confirms Richard Perry. He missed a full week of work waiting to feel better. “I took off about five working days, and it seemed longer.”

Doctors know the flu mutates every year. But they’re unable to explain why this strain suddenly appeared with such ferocity.

“For some reason this year the flu season has come really late,”

[stella9]

Good work Ontariogirl.!!!!! Great research that is greatly
appreciated. So far, we have not seen this flu. We had
about two weeks of illness similar to what you described in your post,
but it fizzled fast. The big winner this year has been the
stomach virus that just does not want to leave our town.



Canada has probably been spared of stomach flu this year because
several places, primarily Toronto, have been so hard hit in the
past. I know the 2002-2003 season was horrible. It made
national headlines. I remember feeling miserabley sorry for
everyone there.



Stella

[terified girl]

Yes Stella, your absolutely right. I remember watching the local news one night and they had a story on it and it was 2002-2003, and all I can remember was that it was a god awful bug, and I remember one man saying "I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy", and as soon as I heard that, I panicked for the next month. Awful awful year, yuck!

[ontariogirl]

My sister who lives in Ottawa was telling me that in the Newspaper there, everyday this week they are doing the top 7 phobia's, this one in number 7.

[madisonsmom]

Do you notice that every year something flu related hits the news. Some new strain or lack of vaccines because of some reason or another. I realize that they can only predict what will hit but it seems like there is ALWAYS something to be scared about. Know what I mean?? It was really coincidental that we had a shortage of vaccines in the beginning of the season and the flu season got off to a slow start and now that we have massive amounts the flu season is kicking into gear.[img]smileys/smilies_07.gif[/img] What is up with that? (***I must be pms'ing**) But it is really something to think about. What is our government up too??[img]smileys/smilies_03.gif[/img]

[ontariogirl]

I know, it is crazy. If they can come up with all of these influenza vaccines why can't they make a stomach flu vaccine? Make a Norwalk, the Rotavirus,, why can't they do that?

[jesskali]

There actually used to be a Rotavirus vaccine for children but due to some harmful side effects, it was discontinued. I can't remember what the exact issue was with it--someone may have died from it--not sure. It was taken off the market the very first year I was a nurse.