Everybody Off Sick
I haven’t written anything for the ABS blog for some time, but I’m at home, off sick, coughing globs of phlegm all over my keyboard, nursing a nasty cold, or flu, or worse…
I just called in sick, which is always a bit stressful. I find myself exaggerating my symptoms while talking to some girl in the office whose name is only known by the other girl who files her nails at the next desk. Why I feel I need to make certain she thinks I’m two steps away from death’s door, I don’t know.
Anyway, she tells me that I’m not the only one off sick. Apparently around 30% of the college staff (I work in the biochemistry lab at a local university) are currently off sick and an even higher percentage of the students (no surprises there). So it sounds like an epidemic.
So its looking like the Rhinovirus has laid the staff of our humble university to waste. What a pointless thing the Rhinovirus is. The name is derived from the Greek word rhin which means ‘nose’. It can live for up to 3 hours almost anywhere, on your skin, on doorknobs, banisters, telephones etc. Its no wonder that the virus can spread so quickly in environments like colleges and offices.
And there is no cure. Just a bewildering selection of over-priced symptom suppressants. I often find myself thinking that maybe the drug companies are responsible for purposely infecting people with the virus, just to sell more drugs. I’ve spent a small fortune on a selection and I plan to take the lot in the hope of some relief. I just wish there was a simple cure. Right now, I feel like sawing my own head off.
Slow Cooker Recipes wrote,
it’s only the common cold! But it can turn out real bad … and yeah colleges are breeding grounds for viruses and bacteria communal living haha
Link | December 23rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Bill from financial help wrote,
The calling in sick bit was clever, why are most receptionists stereotyped like that. Colds and flus are nasty. i’m not a doctor, but i get by the season by keeping up on vitamins and washing my hands alot and drinking lots of o.j.
Link | December 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
sonny from compare cardiff airport parking wrote,
You’re dead right about the plague. Its everywhere. I was told that a sneeze on a packed train could result in around 150 people becoming infected within 5 minutes – and that particles from a sneeze could travel up to 5 metres.
People really need to use handkerchiefs -
Link | December 24th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Michael from Strickanleitung Mütze wrote,
It is astonishing how many people are sick and are sick for a longer time, at least much longer as the usual cold and flu season every year. This is the first time I heard of Rhinovirus, sounds a bit funny – but result certainly is not funny at all.
Hope you are well again by now!
Mike
Link | February 8th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Radio controlled cars wrote,
Its looking like its going to be a swine flu dominated winter. But this is not to be taken lightly. The elderly and people with various medical conditions really need to be certain they’ve gotten themselves vaccinated.
Link | October 28th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Gordon from Consulting Rooms Harley Street wrote,
Swine flu dominated winter? That depends what you mean by swine flu. Only 10% of those who are diagnosed as having swine flu actually have swine flu, the others just have flu but due to the over the top panic they get swine flu drugs just in case. There have been some tragic cases, but most of this is just media hype making everything seem as bad as possible, just like the recession.
Link | November 17th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Brianna Lee wrote,
you can actually shorten the symptoms of common cold by taking lots of vitamin-c,.;
Link | August 12th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
waqas from flights to canada wrote,
I agree Vitamin C really helpful.
Link | January 3rd, 2011 at 11:30 am
Receding Hairline Treatment wrote,
I think a hot cup of coffee can also do the trick for you.
Link | February 27th, 2011 at 10:47 am