CDC Director says an epidemic like the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918 that killed 100MILLION is ‘very possible’ and the thought keeps him awake at night…(Telegraphing Their Punches!?)
Dr Robert Redfield urged the public to get a flu vaccination before season starts
In 1918, 50 million people worldwide died in the Spanish flu pandemic
Redfield said on Tuesday that acute flaccid myelitis is CDC’s priority right now
The CDC says 155 cases are under investigation, up from 127 reported last week
Now, 72 cases of acute flaccid myelitis have been confirmed in 24 states
The average age of those affected is four years old and more than 90 percent of cases overall are in children aged 18 and younger
The rare disease affects the nervous system and most resembles the polio virus
Most children regain movement but, in some cases, they are required to be on respirators and could even die from neurological complications
By MARY KEKATOS and ARIEL ZILBER
DAILYMAIL.COM
30 October 2018
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday that another massive flu outbreak similar to one which killed 50 million people 100 years ago is ‘very possible.’
Dr. Robert Redfield, the CDC director, was asked about the possibility that another crisis similar to the Spanish flu pandemic from 1918 would take place.
‘You know, people ask me what keeps me up at night,’ Redfield told CBS News.
‘And the thing that keeps me up at night is just what you brought up, pandemic flu.
‘So I think it’s very possible.
‘And we’re at risk for another pandemic. Our best preparation for that pandemic is to optimize our response to seasonal flu…But…I think that…remains a serious possibility.’
Last winter, 80,000 Americans died of the influenza virus, according to official U.S. government statistics.
That is the highest number of American deaths from flu in four decades.
The Spanish flu infected 500 million people worldwide – 50 million of whom died.
In total, 500,000 Americans perished from the Spanish flu.
Redfield said that the key to minimize the risk of flu is vaccination.
‘We lost more children last year from flu deaths than any year before since we started recording…the majority of those children that died were not vaccinated,’ Redfield said.
‘I want to come back and argue that immunization is one of the most critical tools we have to eliminate diseases…in this case, it’s the most important tool we have to minimize flu.’
Flu season has yet to arrive, but at least one American life has been claimed.
Officials in Florida said earlier this month that a young girl who was not vaccinated died of the illness.
The Rest…HERE
