More people are coming down with what I have termed The Illness. It seemed that virtually anyone I saw was either showing signs of being infected, complained of feeling sick, or absent due to illness. Half of the middle school was reported to be staying at home, and it seemed that almost all my friends were at home sick.

My mom and dad are complaining of headaches and other cold-ish symptoms. My sister felt the same way before getting to her current state, which is like a flu. I myself...