[CanadaSue]

I just reloaded FluWQatch & opened their map. Flu reports have jumped from 23 to 31 states & of real note is Massachussetts. They're at 'WARNING' level - 1 srtep down from epidemic & the state map shows most counties heavily infected, if you will.

http://www.fluwatch.com/index2.html

Click on Massachussetts for the counties most heavily involved & if you live there, this is NOT the time to not be careful. Loads of last minute shopping going on & surrounding states are beginning to show a rise in cases & geographic spread as well. We're bang on target for pretty heavy duty flu in the northeast during the latter part of the holidays & immediately after.

The southeast, Texas & surrounding states & mid Atlantic are ramping up as well.

Be careful out there.

[Brooks]

Thanks, Sue. The Massachusetts map highlights the NE corner of the state (3 contiguous towns) and indicates no activity in Boston. That should be somewhat encouraging.

[Clawdia]

If anyone still has that compulsive need to buy at least one more Christmas present, Amazon.com can still get something to you by Christmas. I've had it with stores - last time I went to the mall, it seemed like everyone was coughing. I was careful to write checks - money can transport more germs than anything else I know of, and so this time of year I don't want to accept change from a clerk.