Avoiding every cliche is next to impossible. Particularly the cliche "there's some nasty bugs going around".
There's certainly something nasty striking thousands of poor souls in this province.
Bosses are fielding the dreaded early morning calls and teachers are teaching decimated classrooms.
Last week Hawke's Bay health officials warned ofa rise in influenza-like illness that's putting the hospital's emergency department seriously under the pump.
DHB chief medical officer Dr John Gommans said usually they saw 110 to 120 cases a day, but that had risen to more than 160 a day.
Perhaps individual constitution has more to do with why some bugs are choosy about their host. Just like how certain individuals are mysteriously untouched by mosquitoes.
Maybe science (and mosquito research) should also look to the resilient for answers.
The truth is we've yet to better the remarkable virus. Has history ever boasted a more successful organism?
Like Madonna its lifeblood is reinvention, returning with more spunk and strength at each iteration. It packs an unparalleled lust for life.
Our healthy respect is crucial, but so too is a better understanding of an ever-morphing agent of misery making a strong case for the planet's ultimate survivor.
