tschram

Just as we are finally seeing Covid cases recede, the flu, specifically Type A Flu has begun to impact our community. Last year when we were wearing masks during the pandemic, flu cases in our state were much lower than in previous years. A stomach bug also seems to be circling town. My late grandpa, Bob Harpole, who survived the Depression, would often state that perhaps someone had the epizootic when they exhibited cold or flu symptoms. The epizootic or “epizooty” as old timers would call it, is in fact a term for a disease temporarily widespread in an animal population. Back in 1872, a mysterious illness plagued horses in approximately 33 states, and it was called, “the epizootic”. Soon people were using it to refer to human illness. It was a folk word passed down through families. The epizootic was disastrous at the time because transportation and farming relied on horse power. People at that time saw a slowdown in their supply chain as well because of it. We can relate to that. This week I’ve received a few articles from the Extension Service concerning Avian Bird Flu and it dawned on me that they are in fact concerned about a global epizootic of the bird flu.