More than 200,000 people are hospitalized in the U.S. each year for respiratory and heart conditions that are associated with seasonal flu infections, according to a study conducted by the CDC and based on records from about 500 hospitals from 1979 to 2001.
Source: CDC
Stories by FactCheck.org
October 22, 2009
Most adults with influenza can spread the disease to others beginning one day before they get sick and up to seven days afterward. Children are contagious for longer than a week.
Source: CDC
October 21, 2009
Over the past 26 flu seasons, flu activity has peaked in February more often than in any other month.
Source: CDC
FactCheck Mailbag, Week of Oct. 13-Oct. 19
This week, readers sent us comments on the flu vaccine, fabricated Limbaugh quotes and FactCheck fact-checking. In the FactCheck Mailbag we feature some of the e-mail we receive.
Readers can send comments to editor@factcheck.org. Letters may be edited for length.
October 20, 2009
Each year in the U.S., 5 percent to 20 percent of the population on average gets the flu. About 36,000 die from flu-related causes.
Source: CDC
October 19, 2009
China is the world’s top apple producer.
Source: USDA
October 18, 2009
Pumpkins can range in size from less than a pound to more than a thousand pounds.
Source: University of Illinois
October 17, 2009
Illinois, one of the top four pumpkin-producing states, produced 496 million pounds of pumpkins in 2008.
Source: University of Illinois
October 16, 2009
Forty-nine percent of 18- and 19-year-olds in the U.S. were enrolled in college in 2007.
Source: Census Bureau
October 15, 2009
The average in-state tuition, room and board at U.S. four-year public colleges and universities was $14,915 for the 2007-08 academic year. That’s more than double the cost in 1990.
Source: Census Bureau