Data Report

Sharp rise in respiratory viruses, hospitalizations
Published: Jan. 28, 2025 at 6:58 AM EST

WECT local news Wilmington, NC

https://www.wect.com/video/2025/01/28/sharp-rise-respiratory-viruses-hospitalizations/


Masked Man comment:
Okay this news has facts and opinions. Fact being there is a rise in numbers of ill. Opinions being on how you the viewer should conduct yourself to avoid being sick. I won't dispute the facts of this news but I am of the opinion more could be done in protecting yourself from influenza and airborne diseases than is stated in this particular news. I will take the liberty of voicing my opinion as well:

...still hospitals and local doctors communicate needs of washing hands and taking vaccines. Professionals, the so called experts on the subject acknowledge germs exist that come from our respiratory systems to other's respiratory system by flying through the air from our mouths and noses and landing on surfaces. That said  doctors and hospitals still can't seem to acknowledge that people should wear masks while the germ is in airborne stage at least on this news channel.

I'm not a doctor but according to what Ive studied about influenza and other airborne diseases I recommend masks and I highly recommend telling your doctor , nurses and staff that you prefer they wear masks on your behalf. Perhaps carry some masks with you for them as well as some educational pamphlets on the matter

I strongly discourage anybody in their right mind to go up to a sick person with influenza without at least protecting themselves from exposure with a mask no matter how great they think they are or how great they think their immune systems are. I suggest people be extremely humble around all airborne diseases and take more precautions like masks so as not to breathe in and inhale the virus and to be on the safe side. I wouldn't ignore that little stage where the virus is in the air or if one touches their face like the maskless might ignore. I think that time the virus is airborne and the way it sticks lightly to stuff is the reason to mask as well. I think the mask helps lesson the window of opportunity the virus has to get on your lips  or get down into your lungs.. some doctors, nurses and staff might disagree with that or that somehow this phenomena and the physics involved as to how airborne viruses work doesn't apply to them.

For the layperson with no experience with germs, It works like this: One time I spray painted my old truck outdoors without a mask ..even though I was outdoors that night paint came out of my nose every time I blew it.. same thing with germs.. they get up in there no matter how careful you are. wear a mask for occupational hazards like spray painting your truck or if you have to take care of a friend that might have exposed themselves to disease.

The Masked Man (five years and counting.. masked and disease free so far but for the grace of the mask go I)

P.S If you are concerned the mask might hurt you, I recommend practice sessions in your mask for set amount of times then take your blood pressure and check your vitals and see how you feel in increments throughout the day until you feel safe enough to use your mask for set periods of time. That is what I would do if I was concerned about the masks and my ability to breathe through it for certain amounts of time ... I am not a doctor so cannot advise you medically or proffessionally  but I can say in five years straight outside my house, I have done everything in my mask from cardio on a bicycle to all sorts of strenuous outdoor actives with no ill affect for me insofar far as I know. That's my advice even though I am not a qualified medical expert. The only reason I'm telling you about the mask is that I have a conscience and I have intelligent behavior and you deserve a fair shake in life. If you are intelligent enough to be looking at the latest studies about viruses in this forum then you probably have an healthy respect and keen appreciation for the  microscopic entities at play and therefore  you probably appreciate what I'm getting at.