A week after reporting flu-related emergency-room visits might have plateaued, WBUR today reports that flu cases have reached record levels in Massachusetts.

This cannot possibly be true, can it?

Via Sambot.

Brian Christiansen reports 3,800 people showed up to try to get one of 2,000 flu shots (500 for H1N1, 1,500 for regular flu):

... Took my 14 month old son to the clinic held at Burlington, MA’s high school today. I got there a half hour before it opened, after sitting in a half hour of traffic on Rt 3A to get there. Police blocked the driveway, sending people to park at Simmons Park, about a half mile up the street.

I parked there and took my son in his stroller back through the pouring rain. When I got about half way up the school driveway, the woman whom I parked next to was coming back towards me with her infant. She said there wasn’t enough vaccine of either seasonal or H1N1 for the number of people in line. She said 3800 people were already there, pushing and shoving. ...

The Boston Public Health Commission reports a 65-year-old man with "multiple underlying health conditions" died of H1N1 on Oct. 31. Test results confirming H1N1 infection came back yesterday, the commission says.

He is Boston's fifth H1N1 death, the commission says. The others died during the spring outbreak.

WBUR reports some local hospitals say the number of ER visits by people with flu-like symptoms has plateaued.

WBUR reports that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is seeing an increase in prescriptions for antibiotics to treat flu symptoms, which the insurer calls "a little concerning" since antibiotics don't work against the flu.

New video from the Boston Public Health Commission:

A couple of clinics on Saturday and Monday. My Dorchester has the details. Because of vaccine shortages, only people in high-risk groups (which the site lists) will get shots.

Look for Channel 7 to highlight the line that stretched around the corner extended a few feet outside the door of the Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center this morning, as frenzied calm people waited in line for a flu shot.

Dr. Gwenn tries to dampen rising hysteria over swine-flu shots:

... Sometimes as parents we have to stop over thinking a situation and do what we have to in order to keep our children safe. I believe this is one of those situations. Instead of questioning data and acting out of fear, we need to start trusting the doctors and scientists working hard to keep our communities safe. After all, they have families and children, too.

My entire family is getting H1N1 this year. I believe in this vaccine and its safety. Please consider doing the same for your kids ...