Even when the news is bad, it’s at least reassuring to read that what you’ve anecdotally observed is in fact part of a larger trend. The Post today says that hospitals are reporting a sharp rise in summer flu cases across the region, something we’ve certainly noticed seems to be true based on the number of friends and colleagues who have come down with nasty bugs in the last month. The main culprit does appear to be the H1N1 virus, aka Swine Flu, which explains why there are so many new flu cases at a time of year when there are typically zero. The really special part? “The federal authorities said it’s too early to tell whether those who contract H1N1 now will be immune in fall when the flu season kicks into high gear.” So those of you who’ve been sick for the last two weeks may get to do this all over again in December. Think about investing in Campbell’s chicken noodle soup.