>>>>>>>http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2011/01/06/flu-early.html
>>>>>>
>>>>>>We got our flu shots about a month ago. With the limited insurance plan I currently have, I can't afford to get really sick. A flu shot is cheap insurance. <g>
>>>>>
>>>>>Sounds like "I wish I was so rich... then I could contract some exotic disease".
>>>>>
>>>>>But then the verb "contract" sounds so ambiguous... as if one could hire a contractor to be ill instead.
>>>>
>>>>The flu business is taking off nicely. A few well placed scare stories and people pile in for unnecessary treatment.
>>>>Here's my tip. Get flu. Go to bed. Drink plenty of fluids. Feel ill for a few days.Get better.
>>>
>>>There was an article in my local paper the other day that so far, there have been three deaths from flu in my county this flu season: a 2-year-old and two otherwise healthy young adults. None had had flu shots.
>>>
>>>Personally, I'll take the flu shot and avoid the risk of dying unnecessarily.
>>>
>>>Tamar
>>
>>So you are now classing flu as a fatal disease.
>
>Not for all, but a lot of people do die from flu. Usually, it's people whose health is otherwise compromised in some way. The current flu strain seems to be taking out people who are otherwise healthy (which is what happened in the 1918-1919 flu epidemic).
>
>I saw elsewhere that you've never had flu. You're very fortunate. I have and it's a thoroughly miserable experience. Between the (albeit usually low) risk of dying and how awful flu is when you get it, I'm happy to get a shot once a year to protect myself.
>
>Tamar

It really is true that it hits (and different strains) everyone differently. It's possible he had the flu strain at some time and didn't know it, but was a nice host carrying it around. That happened to me. I went in to the doctor once and tested positive for the full blown flu and the doctor prescribed tami flu (which I did not take) and I was told to go home for at least 48 hours. I was not even feeling sick. The doctor told me I was one of those folks who pick that strain up and carry it around -- virtually endangering everyone around me but feeling fine myself.