Coronavirus

Doesn't the regular flu go around and around killing tens of thousands of people per year?

Actually after looking it up it is hundreds of thousands worldwide.

Diseases are like relatives who have lived with you for ages. You know them and put up with them and very little they do surprises you no matter how unpleasant they may be.
But then out of the blue your black sheep daughter brings home a boyfriend who needs a place to stay. And you say WTF??
That is a new disease.

Meet the new new flu.....same as the old flu. Maybe not even as bad.

Trump couldn't have asked for a better way to burst the economic bubble in the US (which was going to burst anyways) Can't blame anything on him. Makes one think he started it......lol.

Don't sweat it. I am working on a cure. All I can tell you at this stage is that it involves our gardener's home distilled tequila.

From what I understand a healthy adult will hardly notice they even have it. Like a mild flu. Of course the elderly and those with compromised immune systems could develop pneumonia and possibly die. Just like with the regular cold and flu bugs.......

They haven't found a cure or vaccine for the common cold yet.

I just met an Irani. His relatives from Iran tell him that the epidemic is centered in Qom where the residents belong to a fanatical religion and nobody goes to China so what the hell?? Iran’s leader is from this town. All kind of conspiracy theories abound.

CanuckBob wrote:Meet the new new flu.....same as the old flu. Maybe not even as bad.

As I understand it the mortality rate for the run-of-the-mill flu is 0.1 %. For the new virus it appears to be 2 to 3 %. Much deadlier.

SunFan

Here's a link to the latest information on the coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control. I found this most interesting:

"However, it’s important to note that current global circumstances suggest it is likely that this virus will cause a pandemic. In that case, the risk assessment would be different."

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

It is the acceleration rate of the spread of the virus that is of concern. It is spreading very, very fast. Then, as virusus do, it will begin to mutate.

SunFan wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:Meet the new new flu.....same as the old flu. Maybe not even as bad.

As I understand it the mortality rate for the run-of-the-mill flu is 0.1 %. For the new virus it appears to be 2 to 3 %. Much deadlier.

SunFan

From what I have read there is approximately 80,0000 infected and 2700 have died worldwide. Of course the death rate will be way higher in undeveloped nations and way lower in developed nations such as Canada and the U.S.

RVGRINGO wrote:It is the acceleration rate of the spread of the virus that is of concern. It is spreading very, very fast. Then, as virusus do, it will begin to mutate.

The flu always mutates which is why vaccinations don't always work and it keeps going around and around. It doesn't like hot climates.

Just saw this on Yahoo news...hang on to your hats!

https://www.yahoo.com/news/brazil-confirms-latin-americas-first-coronavirus-case-171028296.html

Oh it will be here but it won't do well in this hotter environment. The virus dies a lot quicker with heat.

Which is why most if the flu arrives here from Canada and the northern US states during snowbird season!

Trump says there’s nothing to be worried about. He put Pence in charge of combating the corona virus.
In the meantime he’ll be at the golf course if anyone needs him.

Drinking a Tecate.......he's staying away from Corona.

Here's an extract from detailed reports the CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues every year:

Estimated Influenza Illnesses, Medical visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths in the United States.  [ http://bit.ly/2Tj2gUF ]

1.  The overall burden of influenza for the 2017-2018 season (in the U.S.A.) was an estimated 45 million influenza illnesses, 21 million influenza-associated medical visits, 810,000 influenza-related hospitalizations, and 61,000 influenza-associated deaths.

2.  CDC estimates that the burden of illness during the 2018–2019 season (in the U.S.A.) included an estimated 35.5 million people getting sick with influenza, 16.5 million people going to a health care provider for their illness, 490,600 hospitalizations, and 34,200 deaths from influenza.

It is hard to defeat a virus because viruses are not living things. They are complicated assemblies of molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. On their own they can do nothing until they enter a living cell. Without cells, viruses would not be able to multiply. So, the trick is to avoid contact with the virus by avoiding crouds, contact with unclean surfaces, etc. It is certainly not easy, and may be near impossible. That is why isolation and those 'spacesuits' are the only approach that might help. Unfortunately, those measures are usually too late. This is probably a good time to stock up on supplies and stay at home as much as possible. Wash often.

There are those who are quoting statistics for the flu. What one has to understand is that this is not another flu nor will it replace the flu. Having had the flu or vaccination for the flu will not immunize one against this virus. Therefore any stats for the corona virus will be stacked on those for the flu.

All flu's are part of the "corona" family......as I understand.

CBob, I just looked up warmer weather and virus spread. Sorry to tell you that warmer climates increase the spread of viruses- WebMD

An interesting take from NatGeo about warm weather and viruses:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/02/what-happens-to-coronavirus-covid-19-in-warmer-spring-temperatures/

Just heard from the hospital I used to work at in northern CA, they have just admitted their first positive corona virus pt. Pt not in isolation unit but up on the floors. Seems a little cavalier to me.