Originally Posted by Bat Guano

No, Coronavirus Isn't 'Just Like The Flu'. Here Are The Very Important Differences

AFP
14 MARCH 2020Aches and pains, sore throat, fever – although they may feel similar to those suffering from their symptoms, the novel coronavirus is not the same as the seasonal flu, experts stressed Wednesday.

COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, proves deadly in around 3.5 percent of confirmed cases.

While this is not the same as its mortality rate, given many people may be infected but not realise it, it is significantly higher than seasonal flu, which typically kills 0.1 percent of patients.

"There is still considerable uncertainty around the fatality rates of COVID-19 and it likely varies depending on the quality of local healthcare," said Francois Balloux, Professor of Computational Systems Biology at University College London.

"That said, it is around two percent on average, which is about 20 times higher than for the seasonal flu lineages currently in circulation."

Serious cases

But the true danger of coronavirus is unlikely to be the death toll. Experts say health systems could easily become overwhelmed by the number of cases requiring hospitalisation – and, often ventilation to support breathing.

An analysis of 45,000 confirmed cases in China, where the epidemic originated, show that the vast majority of deaths were among the elderly (14.8 percent mortality among over 80s).

But another Chinese study showed that 41 percent of serious cases occurred among under 50s, compared with 27 percent among over 65s.

"It's true that if you're older you're at greater risk, but serious cases can also happen in relatively young people with no prior conditions," said French deputy health minister Jerome Salomon.

Contagiousness

Disease experts estimate that each COVID-19 sufferer infects between two to 3 others.

That's a reproduction rate up to twice as high as seasonal flu, which typically infects 1.3 new people for each patient.

Vaccine/treatment

Salomon said that humans have lived with influenza for more than 100 years.

"We've studied it closely," he said. "This new virus resembles the flu in terms of physical symptoms but there are huge differences."

Number one is the lack of a vaccine against COVID-19, or even any treatment shown to be consistently effective.

While some trials have shown promise delivering anti-retroviral drugs to serious cases, as well as some experimental therapies, their sample sizes are too small to roll out to the general population.

Hundreds of researchers around the world are working frantically to find a COVID-19 vaccine, but the development process takes months and is likely too late for the current outbreak.

Even if a vaccine magically appeared, getting everyone access it to it is no small order. Health authorities regularly complain that not enough people receive the flu vaccine to guarantee "herd immunity".

Similarities

But the new virus does share some characteristics with flu, notably the measures each one of us can personally take to slow the infection rate:

Avoid shaking hands, frequently wash your hands with soap and water, avoid touching your face and wear a mask if you are sick.

Such actions can limit new infections just as they can with the flu, gastro illnesses and other infectious diseases.

France's health ministry says that only two in 10 people regularly wash their hands after using the bathroom.

"And only 42 percent of people cover their mouth with an elbow or tissue when they cough or sneeze," it added, not encouragingly.
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Originally Posted by BMEP100

Was your mom much younger in 2010 when the Swine flu killed tens of thousands and infected millions ? There was no panic or pandemic declared with that administration.

The flu killed 80,000 in the US in 2018.

It passed and the economy continued along, without the media hysteria.

If someone believes they are at higher risk this time, by all means, stay in your room.

Get a grip. Turn off the network news.

Originally Posted by CrowneVic

Ah, man! Don’t remember hearing he passed. Bummed. He played some great parts over the years.

”You two donkey-dixxs couldn’t get laid in a morgue”.

Originally Posted by Andy

That 3.5% WHO number is total BS. My theory is that the WHO is looking at this as an opportunity to get additional funding. And they will.

Well, clearly I should listen to YOU and YOUR theory. While it may ultimately prove correct, for now, I think I'll listen to people who are actually schooled and work in the health care industry before I listen to Rush and Right-leaning pilots.

Now, let's take a look at a control group where we can pretty much determine the percentage of people who will get coronavirus along with mortality rates. The Diamond Princess. And even those numbers overstate due to the demographics of the people onboard (mostly seniors). The mortality rate was 0.5% and the infection rate was 17%. Real world control group numbers, not some made up scare porn. Link: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/...hip-death-rate

Or, we could look at Italy with just over 7 percent mort rate. And this..."Italy reported 345 new coronavirus deaths in the country over the last 24 hours taking its total death toll to 2,503 - an increase of 16 percent.

The total number of cases in Italy rose to 31,506 from a previous 27,980, up 12.6 percent - the slowest rate of increase since the contagion came to light on February 21. Italy is the European country hardest hit by coronavirus.

Anyone who cites numbers higher than the Diamond Princess is full of BS. Period. Full stop. And yes, there are a lot of political overtones to this. Amazing how people are willing to give up their freedoms so easily due to fear of a mildly bad strain of virus.

Give up their freedoms? Hyperbole much? Perhaps we should revisit this in a few weeks, or months. In the meantime, I am willing to give medical professionals the benefit of doubt. Especially since I have listened to a phenomenal amount of loosely informed and sharply partisan BS in the last 33 years from pilots. I hope I'm wrong and the naysayers are right. But, I'm not willing to concede at this point.

Originally Posted by PilotGR

FROM CDC...2018-2019
CDC estimates that influenza was associated with more than 35.5 million illnesses, more than 16.5 million medical visits, 490,600 hospitalizations, and 34,200 deaths during the 2018–2019 influenza season. This burden was similar to estimated burden during the 2012–2013 influenza season1.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2018-2019.html

Not sure where this guy got 80K

Originally Posted by FlyingMaryJane

Exactly... It's sad that most people understand things in this world are not right, but they still think we live in an honest and legitimate world. That's the question I have on here for everyone.. Do you think we live in an honest and legitimate world today??

Originally Posted by fadec

In other news the flowback to second year pay at a regional won't be worth a damn because that clause is fighting the previous war, when regionals were growing.

Originally Posted by Bat Guano

Or, we could look at Italy with just over 7 percent mort rate. And this..."Italy reported 345 new coronavirus deaths in the country over the last 24 hours taking its total death toll to 2,503 - an increase of 16 percent.

The total number of cases in Italy rose to 31,506 from a previous 27,980, up 12.6 percent - the slowest rate of increase since the contagion came to light on February 21. Italy is the European country hardest hit by coronavirus.