The CDC considers the flu to be widespread in Connecticut, and, at the time of publication, over a dozen people have died of it. But much of the reporting on the issue has left out some important questions. How worried should the average person in Connecticut be? What should people do to protect themselves?

Mieum Media visited the Connecticut Department of Public Health to dive a bit deeper into this issue. We sat down with Mick Bolduc, an epidemiologist, who gave us some important context about the influenza crisis in CT.

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Extended interview with Mick Bolduc can be found here:

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Citations:

#1: “Flu Now Considered Widespread in Connecticut, 3 Flu-Related Deaths Reported.” NBC Connecticut, 31 Dec. 2018, http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Flu-Considered-Widespread-in-Connecticut-503717451.html. Accessed 5 Feb. 2019.

#2: “Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 Feb. 2019, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm. Accessed 5 Feb. 2019.

#3: Gumbrecht, Jamie. “Flu Cases on the Rise in the United States, CDC Says.” CNN, 28 Dec. 2018, http://www.cnn.com/2018/12/28/health/flu-activity-cdc-report-bn/index.html. Accessed 5 Feb. 2019.

#4: “Number of Flu Deaths in Connecticut Rises to 14.” NBC Connecticut, 31 Jan. 2019, http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Number-of-Flu-Deaths-in-Connecticut-Rises-to-14-505154841.html. Accessed 5 Feb. 2019.

#5: “Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 Feb. 2019, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm. Accessed 5 Feb. 2019.

#6: “2018-2019 Influenza Season Update for Week 4.” Connecticut Department of Public Health, 31 Jan. 2019, portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-Agencies/DPH/dph/infectious_diseases/flu/stats/thisweeksfluupdate.pdf. Accessed 5 Feb. 2019.

#7: “Overview of Influenza Surveillance in the United States | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19 Oct. 2018, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/overview.htm. Accessed 6 Feb. 2019.

#8: Gore, Leada. “Flu Now Widespread in 45 States, Including Alabama: How to Disinfect at Home, School, Work.” Al.com, 4 Feb. 2019, http://www.al.com/news/2019/02/flu-now-widespread-in-45-states-how-to-disinfect-at-home-school-work.html?outputType=amp. Accessed 6 Feb. 2019.

#9: Goldblatt, Daniel. “Ozzy Osbourne Hospitalized Following Complications From the Flu.” MSN, 6 Feb. 2019, http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/ozzy-osbourne-hospitalized-following-complications-from-the-flu/ar-BBTggpr?li=BBnb2gh. Accessed 6 Feb. 2019.

#10: Bolduc, Mick. In-person interview. 6 Feb. 2019.

#11: Outro Song: “Fill Me In” by Atwaters featuring Yeon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW0iKqFMoxo Used with artist’s consent. The contents and views of this video may not necessarily be shared with the artist.