Fed up of hearing about the flu

[SpoonBaloon]

I know I’m being unreasonable but am I the only one who’s getting wound up by the constant coverage of the flu on every national news outlet?

It is December. Of course the flu is going around! Every winter we hear about the NHS being overwhelmed.

I can accept minor coverage but it’s been the main story for days on end and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop! And I know the flu kills and people need to be aware to take precautions but surely people don’t need it to be pointed out to them that they have an increased chance of catching the cold or flu in the run up to Christmas?

I was deathly ill with it last year but luckily have managed to avoid it up to now.

Have a pop at imaginary teachers on MN. Isn't it winter in the UK? I wouldn't be keen on open windows.

if you're thinking of schools, then decent handwashing facilities, i.e. paper towels, not hand driers, and desks cleaned every day would help.

Just had an enormous row with my husband about cancelling our London theatre visit on Saturday. Paid stupid money and have looked forward to it for over a year but I think it’s daft to risk getting ill for Christmas. He thinks I’m overreacting. So hard to know what to do for the best.

@DemonsandMosquitoes why not allowed!!

@somenerves I know we are due out tomorrow at the theatre in London for our Christmas family day out and I'm.absolutly dreading it.

Was at an out-patients appt this afternoon. Almost without exception, staff were wearing masks. Many older patients as well, and I was glad to have a mask with me.

As a family, we’ve all been vaccinated. And we’ve all had the flu. I still cough a bit each day, a month later.

This is in Scotland, where all primary, secondary, and pre-school children are offered the vaccination. Also elderly and vulnersble people. Uptake is around 50% amongst those eligible. and hospital visits are being suspended.

It sounds pretty serious to me.

@echt no not imaginary exaclty what dd told me today.

You do understand the need for a ventilated space ? It's extremely balmy down south as well.

I think it would be daft to cancel when you've paid a lot for tickets. Wear a mask if you're really worried. You could just as easily catch flu off a colleague or friend or in a supermarket.

the uptake for children is low, and it's younger age groups that it is spreading more in.

Just to be clear I did say in my first line I knew I was being unreasonable!

It was meant to be a lighthearted post about not being able to check the news without seeing the wall-to-wall coverage. I don’t care about hearing about it in real life and I know it’s serious. I’m very sad to hear about poster’s family members dying.

I wasn’t trying to sound like a conspiracy nut either. I was vaccinated in early October.

I was mostly trying to make a point about the sensationalism in the media. It’s the same every time we have a night of bad weather but we spend a whole week hearing about how Storm Quentin is going to blow our houses away. It’s patronising.

I’m with you. The media does the same thing every year, flu is the end of the world every winter according to them (except the years when flu was replaced with COVID).

I think there should be more education out there that having flu doesn’t usually mean there needs to be a GP visit or a trip to A&E. Our GP is gridlocked this week with people visiting with flu. Yes you do feel crap with flu, but stay home in bed with lots of fluids and some tissues and paracetamol next to you. There are rare occasions when it can be serious, ie the elderly or other underlying health conditions, but mostly you don’t need to be wondering about outdoors going to the doctors unnecessarily.

And I think they’re trying to get us in masks again…..

I was hospitalised and nearly died - so no, I definitely don’t think they are remotely exaggerating. If anything it’s being seriously underplayed.

Had I not been so ill, and I am fit and healthy I would almost certainly agree with you op.

I knew as soon as I was hospitalised that this winter would be the worst. So many vulnerable people will die from this, it’s absolutely hideous. I can’t even put into words how ill I became. I am still traumatised tbh. It was ‘just’ flu, and yes some call it super flu but all I can say is stay away from hospitals unless you are seriously ill.

Check on your neighbours. Keep vulnerable safe.

The lockdowns weren’t for two years.

National policy except pregnant or children for whom we started 1st Sept,

@DemonsandMosquitoes thanks but why ? There most be some logic to ot

We need to consider what will happen if hospitals are overwhelmed, because that is what we are looking at.

The flu season is earlier than usual this year.

This is where masks can be a good solution. Buy some FFP2 or FFP3 ones you like the look of and go to the theatre and enjoy it. No ice creams in the interval but you don't have to miss the show or waste the money, and while you're in there no one's going to be looking at you, only at the stage.

I think most of us knew what you meant. Every time temp goes below zero big disaster, above 30 even worse disaster etc.

School Christmas events are one of the worst things for spreading flu, noro and Covid. Walked past my kids' old school yesterday and saw parents, grandparents trooping in for the nativity play. They're lovely things to attend but honestly you couldn't be in a more germ-laiden environment in December.

I’m flying on Saturday and wary. Last two flights abroad in June and September I came back and went straight down with Covid both times. Just grabbed a few masks today!

Who are “they”?

@Blizzardofleaves but why.
There is literally nothing that we can do ,we have to go to work ,school travel...

Unfortunately as we can see from this and many other threads people don't want to ventilate rooms which is the single most effective and free way to help us all

Timed to make sure people are most protected at the peak of flu season. As it’s hit earlier it may have turned out to be an own goal this year.