The latest sign that swine flu is spreading, and nearby is a notice on the Township of Bloomfield’s website, which cites a “dramatic increase decrease” in H1N1 just since the end of June, with a total of 20 confirmed or likely cases.
CORRECTION: Sorry, read that wrong. Although 20 cases sounds like a lot to me.
As of July 22, the Health Department has seen a dramatic decrease regarding the
presence of H1N1 in Bloomfield since the end of June.
The following is the most up to date information on H1N1 reports in Bloomfield – the
diagnosis of these cases have all been approved by NJ Department of Health &
Senior Services.
Confirmed Cases – 9
Probable Cases – 11
Not a Case – 7
Although the presence of H1N1 has slowed down, it is important that people
continue to follow the CDC recommendations of hand washing and respiratory
etiquette.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Nursing Division at
973.680.4058
The website also contains PDF files on how to stay healthy, with advice to get your annual flu shot, wash your hands, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze and stay home when you get sick.
yikes.
Have another go at your block quote there. Dramatic “increase”?
Again, look at the actual numbers here:
20 cases of the flu in one month… In a moderately densely populated town of over 45,000. That’s less than 0.004% of the total population of the town.
But, never mind the actual math. Panicking over nothing is way more fun!
again,
Ms. Galant:
The latest sign that swine flu is spreading, and nearby, is a notice on the Township of Bloomfield’s website, which cites a “dramatic increase” in H1N1 just since the end of June
The cited source:
As of July 22, the Health Department has seen a dramatic decrease regarding the presence of H1N1 in Bloomfield since the end of June.
Whoops.
ROC,
I have made a correction.
Good.
I might also suggest striking out “spreading” and perhaps “nearby”.
As various other sources have suggested, it’s obviously going down because students are not in school. The numbers will likely go up again in the Fall. I’m not sure I see the necessity in articles like this though, as they simply tend to stir up fear.
Sorry to nit pick.
but now we’re left with:
“The latest sign that swine flu is nearby is a notice on the Township of Bloomfield’s website, which cites a “dramatic decrease” in H1N1 just since the end of June, with a total of 20 confirmed or likely cases.”
So a sign of “nearbyness” is the dramatic decrease in cases? It’s a little odd, no? Most readers will, no doubt, think of “nearby” in the context of a health threat. Like it’s “near at hand”. In fact, as cases dramatically decrease swine flu seems less and less “nearby”, right?
So, as your editor, I’m going to suggest a complete re-write.
Perhaps consider dramatically decreasing cases as a bit of good news!
Unimportant story.
Silly ROC, you know that Debbie Galant does not edit, proofread or fact-check her stuff before she hits that Publish button.
The Swine Flu, like any other flu, kills the same amount of people each year. The fact that this is news creates panic.
Unimportant story.
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This is why we should be able to “thumb” the original post, as well as the comments.
Now if this comes to Baristaville, I’ll worry.
Until then, please stop making such a big deal over a little flu bug that’s going around.