I am not one of those people who, upon hearing the description of some exotic disease, suddenly twitch with several applicable symptoms. Hypochondria and illness-envy are not among my personality quirks. ...more

November 4, 2009

Q. Is the swine flu shot or the swine flu nasal mist best for children under 18 who have sickle cell trait? Also my 8 year old has sickle cell trait and has to take a monthly shot for allergies to dust mites. Which swine flu option is better, the swine flu shot or the swine flu nasal mist? Also is it true that children under the age of 10 need to have a second dose of the swine flu vaccination? How much time should be between the 1st vaccination and the 2nd vaccaination for children under the age of 10? Thanks. ...more

October 30, 2009

Q. Why do some people die and others don't? Do they die in their sleep? Why can doctors not help them? ...more

October 27, 2009

Q. I'm wondering if someone has had symptoms of swine flu i.e. high fever, cough, body aches, etc and H1N1 has not been confirmed but most likely is the illness does the body build up immunity to swine flu and is it still recommended that the person receive the vaccine? ...more

October 27, 2009

As people are once again learning, producing vaccines against influenza viruses is not an easy thing. Back in 2004, many will recall, there was a shortage of vaccine for what we have come to call the "seasonal" flu. One of only two pharmaceutical companies still making vaccine at the time had to shut down its production facility in England because of contamination problems. ...more

October 27, 2009

As the swine flu sweeps through schools and households across the state, many folks feel as if hand washing now rivals time spent playing outside. ...more

October 22, 2009

Two more swine flu-related deaths have been reported in Hillsborough County. A 47-year-old woman died Sept. 16, and a 39-year-old man died Sunday. The woman had underlying medical conditions, the county health department said, while the man did not. They are the seventh and eighth people to die in Hillsborough County whose deaths were linked to swine flu. ...more

September 26, 2009

With the flu season 10 days away and swine flu casualties continuing to mount, health officials are trying to make prevention as easy as possible. ...more

September 22, 2009

Bell Shoals Baptist Church is asking members with flulike symptoms to stay home after a child attending its vacation Bible school was identified as a possibly having swine flu. ...more

July 20, 2009

A church has informed its congregation that a child attending its vacation Bible school has a probable case of swine flu. ...more

July 19, 2009