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An apple a day keeps the doctor away, the saying goes.
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Here's a bit of wisdom from the Tuesday entry in the "Forgotten English" calendar compiled by Jeffrey Kacirk:
"Apples must be gathered when the moon is at the full, in fair weather and about the 15th of September, and that by hand, without any pole or pealing down, because otherwise the fruit would be much marred ... Sweet apples do much good against the melancholic affects and diseases, but especially against the pleurisy." -Charles and Liebault Estienne's "Country Farm," 1570
While most of us don't pick our apples beneath the full moon in fair weather, the commentary on illness is a timely reminder. Threat of an oncoming swine flu epidemic has public health officials urging everyone to maintain good health (and, of course, we might as well eat apples, because it's apple season).
In the next week or so, Barron County Public Health officials are going to release information about the H1N1 virus, what to do if you get it and how the county plans to deal with it.
An epidemic of the virus is "expected" in Barron County, according to Kaye Thompson, the head of the department.
If the county's information is anything like statements coming out of universities, schools and the state, they'll caution people against leaving their homes for 24 hours if they suffer flu-like symptoms. Hand-washing, disinfecting and covering one's mouth during coughs, among other practices, will be encouraged.
It all sounds like so much paranoia until you study the statistics: swine flu has already killed more than 2,800 people worldwide. Those with weakened immune systems, pre-existing conditions, people younger than 25 and pregnant women are most susceptible.
Unlike seasonal flu, older adults aren't disproportionately affected because many have built up immunity to the virus, federal officials say.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, my grandma says. Which brings me back to apples.
During Prohibition, apple growers needed to sell their wares, and hard cider (the intended byproduct of Johnny Appleseed's efforts) was inconveniently illegal. The "apple a day keeps the doctor away" became the growers' marketing slogan of choice.
It's good advice. I don't believe swine flu will become the equivalent of a modern-day plague, but we can't ignore that it could be far wider-reaching than the strains of influenza we already encounter during Wisconsin's long, cold winters. All of those deaths happened during the months of March through September; we've yet to see how it will spread during the normal flu season.
In such a situation, it is imperative that we all take care of ourselves. Any carelessness by those of us not at the greatest risk could be harmful, or potentially fatal, to someone else.
Plus, I've read a description of how swine flu feels-high fever, coughing, runny nose, aches and pains. Doesn't sound fun.
So, grab an apple. Your immune system-and your community- will thank you.
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©The Chetek Alert 2010
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Dale Lehner |
Oct, 20 2009 |
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The CDC site has details on H1N1. This is an epidemic because of infection rate and not because of death rate. The number of deaths is actually quite small. In the US there are about 88 deaths per year from the normal flu. Deaths since spring related to flu: 86. While twice as many people have died in a comparable period of time this is a low number compared to other diseases and other 'epidemic flus'.
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