From Grace:
This is a totally unrelated topic, but since you’re also a mom, I thought it might interest you, too. My family is just getting over a bad case of rotavirus. As you know, there is no vaccination or treatment for rotavirus (except for those under one year) or norovirus. These are what we commonly call stomach flus.
The only treatment for these ailments is rest and fluids. As I have sadly learned, other than IVs for rehydration and anti-nausea drugs, the medical community does very little for the sick with these illnesses, because they are considered a part of life and self limiting. Most drug companies refuse to invest in developing a cure or a vaccine, because the stomach flu is not considered fatal.
However, according to the CDC, it was the leading cause of death among the elderly in England and Wales from 2001-2006. Another source I can’t find right now, stated around 600,000 children die worldwide from stomach flu every year.
So much for it not causing death!
Only one drug company is attempting a vaccine -LigoCyte . This vaccine is currently in human trials.
My question is will we see a vaccine anytime soon for these dreadful diseases? Even if they usually do not kill, they are incredibly unpleasant and cause thousands of ER trips and hospitializations every year.
BTW, the rotavirus going around this year is especially bad. Alchol based hand santizers will not kill it. Only clorine or soap kill it. It is really awful. Use clorine based hand sanitizer. You do not want this. Trust me.
Hi Grace,
Stomach flu is horrible and is extremely dangerous to the elderly and young children. I’m sure dehydration plays a huge factor in why some people survive this and others do not. I do get the feeling that there will be a vaccine for rotavirus in the next 5-7 years. Whether it is commercially available at that time I’m not sure. The time frame maybe when the vaccine goes into the trial phase of testing. So I guess that company you mentioned might be a good place to invest if anyone is looking to get back into the financial markets. Which personally, I would wait until after next year to do, but that being said this is a common virus and if they can make a vaccine to protect people from it then I’m sure it will be very popular.
Now onto other things….
I hadn’t much thought about the economy, the housing bubble or thought about the stock market in awhile. So when I took a look at it based on a little premonition I had while talking to a client. First of all I’ve been predicting this crash as a bookend event for awhile with another major crash to come. But although there have been some big downward falls, the really big other side of this has not hit. Here’s an interesting blog that has info on all the major crash dates of the market. I’m going to put the ephemeris pages up and see if we can find some patterns here. Here’s the url where I am getting my crash dates from:
http://leatherheadblog.com/2008/09/30/top-10-market-crashes/
OOk, here I’ve re-published the Dow Jones chart and the ephemeris for the start and end date of the market free fall that started the Great Depression. Also the first of this wave of hits in September 2008 and then again in Feb/March of 09 which I predicted (as did many other astrologers at this point) the Dow would again fall. I was hoping that would be the other side of the punch and it would be done but it has been my feeling since the beginning which I mentioned, that this is about a two year process. I was hoping it was going to be over by this spring and the recovery would be in starting this summer. While I have a feeling certain aspects of the economy will go that direction, I think we will see more instability.
I’m going to let you guys look at the chart and the transits and see if any of you can come up with some patterns. I’m also going to meditate on this and continue this discussion in the next post because it’s late and I need some sleep.
Best wishes and many blessings,
Denise
