# Is anyone else concerned with this new virus in China that is becoming a bigger problem every day? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 23, 2020, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841 "2020-01-23T12:42:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/181 "2020-01-27T14:20:52Z")
Well, I am not perfect. If I mis-attributed a quote then my apologies to all involved. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/182 "2020-01-27T15:00:15Z")
My company has a studio in China (as well as other places in the world), and sent out a notice today that all travel to and from China has been suspended. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/183 "2020-01-27T16:53:32Z")
[Mongolia closed their border today.](https://apnews.com/1ea5289ff1a52d43a6ef8bb669b80276) ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/184 "2020-01-27T17:19:36Z")
The State Health Department has cleared me to return to work based on my history. No testing recommended at this time. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/185 "2020-01-27T17:58:44Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Mongolia closed their border today.](https://apnews.com/1ea5289ff1a52d43a6ef8bb669b80276) Wait, so Mongolia is trying to keep the Chinese from entering their country? This sounds like the setup for an episode of South Park or something. [Interesting comparison of the progression of SARS and Coronavirus.](https://i.redd.it/xvmi9cbq2bd41.png) The latter seems to have spun up more slowly than SARS, but those charts paint a rather unsettling trajectory… ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/186 "2020-01-27T20:05:54Z")
Story today at Raw Story (re-printed from Kaiser Health News but stupidly, as is common at Raw Story articles, doesn’t have a link to the source that I could find): [Something far deadlier than the Wuhan virus already lurks near you](https://www.rawstory.com/2020/01/something-far-deadlier-than-the-wuhan-virus-already-lurks-near-you/) TL;DR: Influenza is wide-spread. It’s here. It kills a lot more people. Some excerpts: > [@](#): > > Influenza rarely gets this sort of attention, even though it kills more Americans each year than any other virus, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor of pediatrics, molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. > > Influenza has already sickened at least 13 million Americans this winter, hospitalizing 120,000 and killing 6,600, according to the CDC. And flu season hasn’t even peaked. In a bad year, the flu kills up to 61,000 Americans. > > . . . > > If Americans aren’t afraid of the flu, perhaps that’s because they are inured to yearly warnings. For them, the flu is old news. Yet viruses named after foreign places — such as Ebola, Zika and Wuhan — inspire terror. > > “Familiarity breeds indifference,” Schaffner said. “Because it’s new, it’s mysterious and comes from an exotic place, the coronavirus creates anxiety.” > > . . . > > “We should rename influenza; call it XZ-47 virus, or something scarier,” said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. > > Measles in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 5,000 people in the past year — more than twice as many as Ebola. Yet UNICEF officials have noted that the measles, which many Americans no longer fear, has gotten little attention. Nearly all the measles victims were children under 5. ETA: Article also notes that less than half of Americans are getting their flu shots. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/187 "2020-01-27T20:26:40Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Story today at Raw Story (re-printed from Kaiser Health News but stupidly, as is common at Raw Story articles, doesn’t have a link to the source that I could find): > > [Something far deadlier than the Wuhan virus already lurks near you](https://www.rawstory.com/2020/01/something-far-deadlier-than-the-wuhan-virus-already-lurks-near-you/) > > TL;DR: Influenza is wide-spread. It’s here. It kills a lot more people. > > Some excerpts: > ETA: Article also notes that less than half of Americans are getting their flu shots. :smack: I think the fear with these new items is that they are less known and seem less “controlled.” Epidemic Hollywood movies probably don’t help. In the average person’s mind, there is a chance that one of these new “exotic” flues will spread like wildfire across the world, kill like 5% of the population and no one is safe. More like the Spanish flu. The regular Flu on the other hand is something we do every year and is the devil we know. I also have the impression (correct or not), that most flu deaths are really just older folks that were not doing so well to begin with and were finally “pushed over the edge.” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/188 "2020-01-28T00:02:52Z")
I don’t like the fact that there has been very little news and no real new numbers all day today. It’s nearly 24 hours since I’ve seen any real updated info on infections confirmed or how many have died. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/189 "2020-01-28T00:38:57Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > I guess I’m getting a bit touchy because so much of the discussion on other forums, youtube comments etc, is people actually getting angry that the Chinese government is acting too slowly, or hiding information or whatever. So essentially they are guessing about what is happening, based on their conception of China, then their own guess is making them angry. > > I’m not suggesting anyone just take the government’s word at face value. I don’t. Not only do I not think they’re acting too slowly I’m on record as saying the opposite. They (the Chinese government) are able to cut through any red tape or laws that get in their way. Hell, it became a political freak-show when anyone suggested we quarantine medical people for a couple of weeks after returning from an Ebola epidemic mission. We’re screwed if we need to shut down anything bigger than a hot dog stand. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/190 "2020-01-28T00:41:17Z")
The map posted by **blue infinity** has been updated per **Snowboarder Bo** ’s request. 2997 cases. 82 deaths. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/191 "2020-01-28T00:49:35Z")
2927 cases. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/192 "2020-01-28T02:49:08Z")
Snowboarder Bo, I don’t think most people realize that 1) it’s Chinese New Year and everyone takes this off, 2) up to 1/3 of the Chinese entire population typically travels out of their normal town during this period, 2) the city of Wuhan is locked down with zero public transit, roads essentially shut to private vehicles, 3) anyone with a fever or cough is scared to death they have nCOV and flooding the hospitals (there are very few private medical facilities in China), 4) government itself is trying to get a handle on a situation that is changing rapidly, 5) the number 2 political leader in China is in Wuhan now, 6) head of WHO is meeting in Beijing now, 7) military health personnel are going in to help, etc. Think New Orleans in the Katrina aftermath or D-Day, it’s simply beyond real time monitoring that the interwebs kinda set the expectation for but doesn’t exist outside of Hollywood. @machine elf, no idea where your graph came from but doesn’t pass the smell test to my experience with SARS. There is always more that could be done but to my rookie eyes, China is way ahead of where they were at this point during SARS. Probably a month if not months ahead in identifying and taking action that this is a serious health issue. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/193 "2020-01-28T02:52:22Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Not only do I not think they’re acting too slowly I’m on record as saying the opposite. They (the Chinese government) are able to cut through any red tape or laws that get in their way. Think of it this way, China has effectively blockaded Hunan province (a “state” in the US) with a population of 58M vs most populous US state of California with ~40M. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/194 "2020-01-28T02:53:52Z")
BIG JUMP 4474 cases, 107 deaths Still primarily confined to China. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/195 "2020-01-28T04:02:34Z")
[The AP is reporting “at least” 106 dead. New cases raised the total diagnosed infections to 4,515.](https://apnews.com/8abebaa0abb67a92c1efe8501a122d0d) That’s almost double the infections in the last 24 hours. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/196 "2020-01-28T04:55:20Z")
Snowboarder Bo, please note this from the AP report: So far, the new coronavirus doesn’t seem to spread as easily among people as SARS or influenza. Most of the cases so far that spread between people were of family members and health workers who had contact with patients. That suggests the new virus isn’t well adapted to infect people. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/197 "2020-01-28T11:52:38Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Hell, it became a political freak-show when anyone suggested we quarantine medical people for a couple of weeks after returning from an Ebola epidemic mission. I had some issues with that because many of the proposed measures were, in my opinion, over-reactions to the situation. Ebola is not airborne and the majority of new infections come from direct contact with dead, the rest from close contact with the ill and/or their bodily fluids. This is a problem in rural Africa where protective equipment may be difficult to obtain, less so in the west. The medical people did not need to be locked into isolation wards, staying at home for a time period and being observed would be entirely adequate. This is in contrast to the Wuhan virus, or SARS, or MERS, or flu or measles or the common cold which all can spread via the air. People who might be contagious need to be kept much more apart from others until cleared as safe for an effective quarantine. ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/198 "2020-01-28T12:00:18Z")
There is now a case in Germany and the way it came about is kind of worrying (if the radio news is to believed). This guy in Bavaria caught it from a business contact from Shanghai (who only got symptoms on her way back to China). Thing is that this person hadn’t been to Wuhan, but a family member had been. This way it seems it van spread fairly quickly before anyone notices. On the good side, this German guy seems to be doing well and should be fine. Verstuurd vanaf mijn moto g(6) met Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/199 "2020-01-28T18:55:33Z")
Well, over the weekend my in-laws (who are from China but live here with us in the States) went into full-blown panic mode, fueled by stuff their friends are forwarding around on Weibo and WeChat. :rolleyes: Some of the highlights: - People are dropping in the streets by the thousands. The real reason for closing all of the cities is to keep this news from leaking out. - It is a biological weapon that was released from a lab, possibly on purpose. - It’s not a single virus, but a combination of several viruses, so it can’t be vaccinated against. - The infection is absorbed through the eyes. They spent all day Sunday driving around and buying up boxes of dust masks and swimming goggles. The dust masks (which had to have some specific kind of rating) sound like they are getting hard to find even here in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/200 "2020-01-28T18:59:23Z")
> [@Jet\_Jaguar](#): > > - The infection is absorbed through the eyes. > > They spent all day Sunday driving around and buying up boxes of dust masks and swimming goggles. The dust masks (which had to have some specific kind of rating) sound like they are getting hard to find even here in the US. This last seems to be true. I think it was the Irish teacher that was interviewed by Channel 4 who said that he had swimming goggles because it can be communicated through the eyes. IIRC, there was a doctor who got infected while treating people and they determined that he contracted the infection through his eyes because they were the only thing not protected. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841.md?page=11)