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China reports new cases as WHO declares global emergency over virus

36 Comments
By KEN MORITSUGU

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36 Comments
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the number of cases spiked more than tenfold in a week

In order to 'spike' the number of new cases per day needs to start coming down. This hasn't happened yet unfortunately.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I wanted to compare the cases of flu virus and the coronavirus in the USA. Here is a quote from the CDC (Center For Disease Control):

CDC estimates that influenza has resulted in between 9 million – 45 million illnesses, between 140,000 – 810,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 – 61,000 deaths annually since 2010.

So far there are six cases of coronavirus in the USA. There were 5 yesterday.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

n the wake of numerous airlines cancelling flights to China and businesses including Starbucks and McDonald's temporarily closing hundreds of shops, Tedros said WHO was not recommending limiting travel or trade to China.

But if you do,then be prepared to be placed under quarantine at any stage of your journey or be be prevented from traveling.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Seeing how easily it seems to spread, the lockdowns, cancelled flights and closed borders, are justified, given the number of fatalities. But it is going to be difficult to lift the restrictions until the number of circulating infected individuals has reduced to zero.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Wilbur Ross sees the coronavirus outbreak as a moneymaking opportunity for the US

“I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America.”

Wilbor Ross says that the corona virus will help bring jobs to America. It's like the Cabinet has a bet on who can say the dumbest things.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Wilbor Ross says that the corona virus will help bring jobs to America. It's like the Cabinet has a bet on who can say the dumbest things.

I mean, technically, he might not be wrong... ;-)

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I am not downplaying the seriousness of the situation, but it's important to note that only approximately 2% of reported cases in China have resulted in death

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The only prevention method is use a MASK. Virus ... it is called Corona, Where it is come from? China. Who made it the answer is China ( bio-weapon), CORONA made in China. I went to the shops in Japan to buy a MASK. In the bottom of the packet it is written . " Made in China". UHoooo OOOOO ...

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

You can see the power of money from China. WHO nervously declares global emergency but due to fear of offense, it has to praise China profusely. WHO should really wait a bit longer.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Beware of doomsday conspirators.

The US had about 80,000 flu related deaths last year. Considering China's population, that would mean around 350,000 deaths.

To date, China has reported more than 7,800 cases including 170 deaths.

So that's about a 2.2% mortality rate.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Beware of doomsday conspirators.

The US had about 80,000 flu related deaths last year. Considering China's population, that would mean around 350,000 deaths.

The China had about 1.2 million flu related death last year. Then would be deaths cross many times...

Now here is the the story, if this is nothing like a cold and constipation then China and the world would worry about it????????? Listen what XI said about it, listen what chinese doctors saying " privately" about it..

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

I read a Washington post article that China knew about this virus in mid December but didn't tell anyone. they waited about a month and allowed millions of people from that area to freely travel. hhhmmm? I know its a hard call but with a one state system and no free press ... this is what happens in a communist country

sad, feel sorry for the victims

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Beware of doomsday conspirators.

The US had about 80,000 flu related deaths last year. Considering China's population, that would mean around 350,000 deaths.

So we shouldn't worry about another potential deadly pandemic because it hasn't killed enough people yet? Sure. Makes perfect sense...

4 ( +8 / -4 )

If they are going to declare this a global health emergency for 200 deaths when the flu kills over 20, 000 in the U.S. over a similar time frame almost every year, one needs to question motives.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Well, obviously the media loves a good panic. It sells advertising and fills in airtime. The worst thing for media is the 24 hour news cycle. If there aren't constant stories and #breaking news", then they lose ad revenue. Nothing like a crisis to analyse and reanalyse and rehash and discuss....

5 ( +5 / -0 )

So we shouldn't worry about another potential deadly pandemic because it hasn't killed enough people yet? Sure. Makes perfect sense...

Worrying or fear does not help. Prevention helps like washing your hands with soap and water etc.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

What is it all the time I am reading it has a mortality rate of just about 2-3%?

There are about 9000 infected people and only about 200 of them have been declared cured. But more than 200 of them have died. We still do not know what will happen to the other infected people.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Every week, add a zero to the current number of cases as a rough estimate for exponential infections:

8 -- 80 -- 800 -- 8,000 -- 80,000 -- 800,000 --- 8,000,000 .... This week is really the breaking point for containment or not.

What country can quarantine 8M people for 14 days?

Flu, or complications due to it, kills about 0.1% of those infected. In the US last flu season, that was about 80,000 deaths.

This virus death rate appears to be between 2% - 3% of those infected.

Also, we can't take the numbers of known deaths and divide by total infections today to get the real numbers. Because there is a 2-14 day incubation period (CDC), we need to use the know infection numbers from last week to estimate the deaths for next week.

SARS had a death rate of 9.6%.

MERS has a death rate of 3.4%.

Wuhan coronavirus spreads easier than SARS, but seems to have a much lower mortality rate.

China has taken extraordinary steps to contain this virus. They have also reported any returning Chinese who are found to have the illness to other countries. Germany was notified and a case uncovered before symptoms appeared. Extremely helpful. We need to thank China and support their efforts. We are all in this together even if we aren't impacted today.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

@The Avenger

The WHO has declared that it is a pandemic!

Nuff said...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I am not downplaying the seriousness of the situation, but it's important to note that only approximately 2% of reported cases in China have resulted in death.

That is, if you believe those reports and China doesn’t have a good history when it comes to reporting facts, numbers, stats, political or medical disasters or emergencies. I’m highly suspicious and highly cautious about anything coming out of China.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@The Avenger

The WHO has declared that it is a pandemic!

Nuff said...

Someone told the WHO to declare an emergency, they did not do that by themselves. Run the script and raise on a busted flush.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Too little too late!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

That stands in stark contrast to the initial response to SARS, when medical reports were hidden as state secrets. The delayed response was blamed for allowing the disease to spread worldwide, killing around 800 people

Instead of people’s lives, China is more concerned with their own image.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@theFu

We need to thank China and support their effort

No. We don't.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

What is it all the time I am reading it has a mortality rate of just about 2-3%?

Because people want to believe in the idea that if they catch it they have a high chance of survival. Like you said, more people are dying than recovering from it. And even if it only was at a 2-3% that is still the same rate as the Spanish Flu which ended up killing up to 100 million people.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

According to CDC, the mortality rate for influenza is 0.13%. There is vaccination for the influenza virus.

Our latest understanding of the novel coronavirus puts the mortality rate at 2.0%. It is at least 15 times more deadly than flu. It is however less deadly than SARS which has a mortality rate of 10%.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Is Abe goverment still sitting on their arse and watching? cut off the airway already

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@kim fong ong there's no vaccination for the coronavirus yet, once the vaccination is out the spread will be under control

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The problem with the WHO is they are all or nothing. Wavering between extremes helped no-one.

WURS still has a way to go. In the meantime, remain vigilant!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

By my calculations the numbers are roughly doubling every 3-4 days. Continues at this rate it might top 1 million by the end of the month

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Before we all get to carried away with all this fear mongering, has anyone asked the question what the demographics of these infected or deceased people are? such as age?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yup, Andrew. Asked and answered.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Based on limited patient numbers from December and early January, mostly (but not exclusively) elderly, male, east-Asian demographic.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Recently I was reassured by the statement from the Head of The Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Cellular Level Biosafety Level 4, denying that their institute either leaked this virus, or allowed animal carcasses from their experiments to find their way into the marketplace.

Oh, wait, no, that was in my dream last night.

Relax, no need for such a responsible person to make any announcement at such a time as this.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

WHO declared an emergency but from what I could tell, it was a precautionary emergency to justify having assets placed in case something actually happens where they will be needed.

Now that everyone in China is wearing their cough covers and being careful, the chance of coronavirus getting anywhere is virtually nil. Any cases that show up will be cases that started before the warnings went out, and time is running out for them, they are going to peak soon.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

From the Daily Wail.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7922379/Chinas-lab-studying-SARS-Ebola-Wuhan-outbreaks-center.html

The Wuhan lab is also equipped for animal research. In 2017, the scientists who spoke to Nature acknowledge the opportunity this presents for the development of vaccines and treatments. 

Regulations for animal research - especially that conducted on primates - are much looser in China than in the US and other Western countries, meaning these studies are less costly and face fewer barriers that could limit or slow them.  But that was also cause for concern. 

Studying the behaviour of a virus like 209-nCoV and developing treatments or vaccines for it requires infecting these research monkeys, an important step before human testing. Monkeys are unpredictable though, warned Ebright. 'They can run, they can scratch they can bite,' he said, and the viruses they carry would go where their feet, nails and teeth do.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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