# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/21 "2020-01-23T17:12:01Z")
> [@Mallard](#): > > Sars, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, Spanish flu, and the list goes on and on. And now, the [snake flu](https://www.livescience.com/new-coronavirus-origin-snakes.html). ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/22 "2020-01-23T17:17:16Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I fully agree with both opinions you have stated. This virus is one of the scariest that has happened in a very long time. Since so many people seem to be downplaying the possible problem, I am paying very close attention and I have an appointment with my doctor in a few days and I will ask if there are any medications I can stock up on. I will let you know what he says. > > In addition, there are several doctors who post on this site. One of them (I believe his name starts with an “S”) often discusses natural remedies. If I can find out who he is, I will indeed ask his opinion on things we can do to prevent health problems. > > BTW, a flu shot would be a real good idea. > > AAMOF, I’m guessing he will post to this thread and I look forward to hearing what he has to say. > > I am not a medical professional - not by a long shot. But it seems to me there are two categories of activities ordinary folks can do. > > The first is not to take any extraordinary foolish chances - such as inviting strangers or friends who seem to be sick to come and stay with us for a few days. Other extraordinary risks include doing things for the first time that are inherently dangerous - such as: skiing or snow boarding. This would seem to be a bad time to try any of these things for the first time. > > The second category of things to do is to prepare by stocking up on certain kinds of medications (like antibiotics) or other products that may become hard to get if many people begin to get sick. I’d also consider what I would need to have in order to stay indoors for a week or so at a stretch. > > I certainly don’t want to alarm people. But if it turns out this viral outbreak becomes a serious health problem, I think it might be a good idea to acquire certain products now if we believe they may become hard to find if this problem should become an epidemic. > > Please understand, all of my opinions are no better than mere guesses. Most of this is bad advice. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses so there is no point in stocking up on them. Antivirals are only available with a prescription so it is illegal to stock up on them. There are no known effective natural products that protect against viruses. Unless your guests are from China, there is no point in not inviting people over. Skiing or snowboarding will not increase your chance of getting this disease unless you do it in China. So far this disease is most like SARS which was also a coronavirus, it infected about 8,000 people and killed slightly less than 10% of them. The fatality rate was highest in Canada, so unless you are from the frozen north, it is probably not a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/23 "2020-01-23T17:23:11Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > In addition, there are several doctors who post on this site. One of them (I believe his name starts with an “S”) often discusses natural remedies. If I can find out who he is, I will indeed ask his opinion on things we can do to prevent health problems. **Qadgop the Mercotan** is a doctor, and I believe **Jackmanii** is a pathologist. I doubt they will recommend any “natural remedies” unless there is science to back them up. > [@](#): > > BTW, a flu shot would be a real good idea. In general, sure, but it won’t affect your chance of getting this new strain of coronavirus. There is no vaccine for that strain as of yet. > [@](#): > > The second category of things to do is to prepare by stocking up on certain kinds of medications (like antibiotics) or other products that may become hard to get if many people begin to get sick. I doubt if the demand for antibiotics is going to be affected, since this is a virus and antibiotics have no effect on viral infections. To date, this appears to me to be a somewhat more serious strain of flu. A 1-2% mortality rate is nothing to sneeze at ( 🙂 ) but it is also not the end of the world. Wash your hands avoid contact with anyone who traveled thru the affected areas of China. Maybe the situation is much worse than we think - China is not real good at reporting these kinds of things, for many reasons - but maybe not. As usual, I expect it will affect those who are already in compromised health or are very young. I prefer to wait until the last minute to panic. Regards, Shodan ---
**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 23, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/24 "2020-01-23T17:24:41Z")
I’m all set… got a metric shit-ton of Forsythia, a couple pallets of ramen noodles and I’m avoiding shaking hands with any chefs in Asia. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/25 "2020-01-23T17:36:08Z")
Naw, I have “crisis” burnout. Couldn’t be arsed to increase my blood pressure if a tiger jumped on me at this point. I’m a long way from China–a big ocean and a couple mountain ranges–and anyone I actually care about lives within 5 miles of me. The only thing about a worldwide plague of lethal influenza that mildly concerns me is the health effects of so many rotting and unburied corpses. But I recon that’d be a fairly brief matter because stuff can’t rot forever. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/26 "2020-01-23T17:56:13Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > **Qadgop the Mercotan** is a doctor, and I believe **Jackmanii** is a pathologist. I doubt they will recommend any “natural remedies” unless there is science to back them up. > In general, sure, but it won’t affect your chance of getting this new strain of coronavirus. There is no vaccine for that strain as of yet.I doubt if the demand for antibiotics is going to be affected, since this is a virus and antibiotics have no effect on viral infections. > > To date, this appears to me to be a somewhat more serious strain of flu. A 1-2% mortality rate is nothing to sneeze at ( 🙂 ) but it is also not the end of the world. > > Wash your hands avoid contact with anyone who traveled thru the affected areas of China. Maybe the situation is much worse than we think - China is not real good at reporting these kinds of things, for many reasons - but maybe not. As usual, I expect it will affect those who are already in compromised health or are very young. > > I prefer to wait until the last minute to panic. > > Regards, > Shodan Thanks very much Shodan. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/27 "2020-01-23T18:01:02Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > On an upcoming flight, as soon as I sit down I will sanitize my armrests, tray table, and seat belt with a disinfecting wipe, just as I’ve been doing for several years; and I’ll open the overhead vent to shower my face with fresh, HEPA-filtered air, helping to keep unfiltered air from disease-ridden fellow passengers away from my face. I guess I owe “people like you” an apology. On our plane out of the US I saw a passenger wiping everything down and pointed him out to my gf. We had a laugh about the germaphobe. On our flight home we sat on a crowded plane while a repair was made which took 90 minutes (and made us miss our next flight) and now we are both sick.☹ ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/28 "2020-01-23T18:01:47Z")
Hm. The only case in the U.S. so far is in Everett, Washington. We’re flying to Everett this April for a vacation. That guy better stay in the hospital until he’s completely well and not pass his bug on to people in the area. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/29 "2020-01-23T18:09:12Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > The second category of things to do is to prepare by stocking up on certain kinds of medications (like antibiotics) or other products that may become hard to get if many people begin to get sick. I’d also consider what I would need to have in order to stay indoors for a week or so at a stretch. > [@puddleglum](#): > > Most of this is bad advice. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses so there is no point in stocking up on them. Antivirals are only available with a prescription so it is illegal to stock up on them. I just want to +1 what **puddleglum** said. Antibiotics are utterly and completely useless against viruses. Antibiotic overuse/abuse is an ever-increasing problem, causing a rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fewer useful types of antibiotic. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/30 "2020-01-23T19:05:00Z")
**Charlie Wayne** , the whole reason we have elected officials is so we don’t have to think all the time. Just like that rain forest scare a few years back. Our officials saw there was a problem and they fixed it, didn’t they? I’m not too worried about it myself. I think the R0 for SARS was brought down to 0.2 due to public health containment efforts in China. Hopefully they’ll do the same with this virus. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/31 "2020-01-23T19:08:53Z")
Every time viruses get mentioned, someone has to bring up antibiotics, someone else then has to recite the “overuse/ineffective” speech yet again … I guess I don’t understand how that hasn’t sunk in more thoroughly. I mean, the majority of people are familiar with “Look both ways before you cross the street” and “Call 911 in emergencies.” I didn’t think this was more complicated, but O.P. isn’t the first person I’ve heard THIS WEEK talking about antibiotics as a magic cure-all that you can take - and critically, STOP taking - whenever you feel like it. Anyway, I also have to wonder what, if anything, “staying indoors for a week” would accomplish. Unless you have industrial-scale filters for your home HVAC intake (and you don’t … ) then being inside wouldn’t provide any additional protection. Air conditioning and Netflix, sure. But not protection from viruses. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/32 "2020-01-23T19:09:23Z")
I’m not overly concerned, but I have steel supplier in Wuhan, and I’ve been there myself. Potentially my Chinese materials engineer could have visited, returned to Nanjing, passed it to someone visiting us here, and infect half of SE Michigan. Six degrees of separation, and all. Oh, and because DTW is a hub, 60% of the people on the plane will disperse to other US and Canadian cities. I have in-laws in China, of course, but not in Wuhan. Some of them I might credit with eating anything that’s sold live, so they may be patient zero for something else in the near future. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/33 "2020-01-23T19:11:47Z")
double ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/34 "2020-01-23T19:11:56Z")
> [@Mallard](#): > > Sars, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, Spanish flu, and the list goes on and on. Let’s not forget those Mad Cows. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/35 "2020-01-23T19:12:43Z")
My imminent-disaster folder is full and has been for awhile now. I’d have to delete something to make room. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/36 "2020-01-23T19:32:52Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I’m all set… got a metric shit-ton of Forsythia, a couple pallets of ramen noodles and I’m avoiding shaking hands with any chefs in Asia. Ramen noodles??? Are you crazy? Those things are Asian. You’re just begging to be infected by the… the… say, does this new virus have a catchy name yet? How can I panic appropriately if I don’t know the correct name? Flunado! Virpocalypse! Flurus! ---
**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 23, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/37 "2020-01-23T20:06:37Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > I just want to +1 what **puddleglum** said. Antibiotics are utterly and completely useless against viruses. Not only that, but the average person will have a difficult time stockpiling antibiotics, since virtually all of them are prescription only. Unless we’re talking about using Neosporin as a sandwich spread. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/38 "2020-01-23T20:12:49Z")
Agree with **Little Nemo** , **Shodan** , and several others. Seen this movie too many times. If this thing is just SARS, H1N1, Mad Cow, Ebola, etc. all over again … I’ll be totally safe. If this thing is [Captain Trips](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stand#Captain_Trips), then there wasn’t anything I could have done to protect myself anyway. … I am curious as to how one stocks up on antibiotics in the U.S. Are there states where over-the-counter antibiotics are legal? Or do you just go and feign symptoms and get several doctors to write you prescriptions? Or else … is [raiding PetCo for fish antibiotics](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/here-are-reasons-you-shouldnt-take-fish-antibiotics-180964523/) still a thing? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/39 "2020-01-23T20:59:51Z")
You snake the antibiotics (along with all the yummy yummy valium!) from the pharmacy after society has collapsed. They won’t help you with the virus, but if you survive the Captain Tripps apocalypse you may need them for some other eventuality. If not, no big loss. ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-concerned-with-this-new-virus-in-china-that-is-becoming-a-bigger-problem-every-day/846841/40 "2020-01-23T21:13:04Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I have no qualifications to advise you whether to go or not to go. But if I was you, there is no way in Hell that I would go. At least, I’d wait a week or two and see how this thing develops. As it stands, it seems quite terrifying to me. I mean, there’s going in April. That’s quite a bit of time to see how this develops. My mom goes about once a year for work. She HAS gone in April before, but seeing as she was last there in October, I doubt she’ll be going back so soon. It usually depends on airfare prices. This is a good thing to keep an eye on, though. If it moves toward Shanghai (where she always goes), hopefully she won’t risk it. If it gets that dire though, she probably won’t have a choice. Unrelated to the virus, I’ve been to Shanghai and Beijing once. Beautiful country with incredible history. You really get a culture shock, going from a country with a little over 200 years of recorded history to one with thousands. I’d absolutely visit again. I hope this virus subsides, and no more people are hurt/killed. [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=1) [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=3)