Where is Vladimir Putin?

Much of the world seems to have become obsessed with speculation on the whereabouts and or condition of Russia's president. Mr. Putin was last seen in public on March 5. Such prolonged absences from public view are unusual for the Russian president, and given the history of the country, it was inevitable that the rumor mill would start going into overdrive. However, the most likely explanation is also one of the more mundane.

There is currently an epidemic of super flue raging in Moscow that has reportedly stricken about half the population. According to public health officials, this particular strain is especially nasty, often leaving its victims completely prostrate for days. (I had a similar experience in December of 2012. A relative with the flue showed up for Christmas dinner and by sunset on Boxing Day I felt like I had been hit by a train. I spent a good four or five days flat on my back and even after that it was several days before I was up to leaving the house.)

So yeah, invoking Occam's Razor my money is on this being a good old fashioned case of the grippe.