How do we reconcile that with the state saying flu is at a historic high and H1N1 probably hasn’t peaked?
This could be a case of so-called reporting bias. To explain: since swine flu is getting so much publicity, people are extra-worried about becoming sick. So even if they only have a mild flu, they go to a doctor because they’re scared. Then all those visits get reported to the state, even though in a typical flu season many sick people wouldn’t have bothered to call a doctor. “Maybe someone who has the sniffles and a fever would normally just stay home and manage it. But when they’re being told there’s a ‘novel strain,’ then there’s more uncertainty and anxiety about a potentially severe illness. So they call or visit the doctor — and things that used to fly under the radar are now flying to the attention of people who record such events. And that ‘reporting bias’ looks like a surge…but that’s because historically we haven’t been that attentive [to the volume of minor flu cases].” – Dr.
