The Wuhan virus sweeping China has now killed 9 people and infected 440

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: Business Insider

The death toll from the deadly respiratory virus sweeping China jumped to nine on Wednesday, with 440 cases confirmed.

The China Health Commission released updated figures on Wednesday morning local time for the coronavirus, the scientific name for the illness widely referred to as the Wuhan virus.

It came not long after the first case of the disease was confirmed in the US; a male Washington state resident in the 30s recently went to Wuhan to visit relatives.

The latest death toll indicates a further escalation of the disease. The death toll Tuesday was six with around 300 infections.

Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-virus-death-toll-china-9-with-400-sick-2020-1?utm_source=notification&utm_medium=referral

[roamer65]

1. 9 out of 440 is still a 2 percent death rate.

So that means in the United States if it goes pandemic we are looking at up to 6.5 million dead.

The health system cannot handle that many people sick all at once, not mention many of the healthcare workers who will come down with it.

[matt819]

2. Hang on there

That’s if every person in America were infected. So far only 440 of 1.3 billion have been infected in China.

Please hold the hysteria.

[roamer65]

3. Let's give it time.

I said “up to”.

Still if even 25 pct are infected, it’s not gonna be pretty.

[cstanleytech]

4. "Please hold the hysteria." There's always going to be some who start panicking

every time the news media reports about a new virus that is spreading.
As we have seen with the bird flu and the swine flu though it usually turns out to be a non-issue.

[NickB79]

8. "Usually" is the key word here

Pandemics happen, and we have no way of predicting when exactly. We know we're overdue for one based on historical patterns, and if it's this disease, or a new flu, or something else in a decade or two, sooner or later one will hit. It is inevitable.

Remember, the boy who cried wolf eventually came face to face with a real wolf in the end.

[roamer65]

9. Yep. Well said.

[cstanleytech]

10. Of course they happen but the vast majority of virus outbreaks never become pandemics.

So honestly given our current medical knowledge I doubt we'll see many pandemics like we had 100 or more years ago.

[Liberalhammer]

5. Infection

Will be exponential. There will be at least six figures infected in a few days, million by the weekend.

[roamer65]

7. Chinese lunar new year celebrations are a nightmare for viral propagation.

That is where it will go exponential, if it does.

[herding cats]

13. I have daily interactions with people in China.

It's via an online English language teaching gig I have.

Even those I've dealt with who are out celebrating are wearing masks. Hopefully, it will help slow the spread during the holiday.

[angstlessk]

6. If you lay 9 dead and 440 ill over England 55.98 million

or Ireland 4.83 million, or even the USA 327.2 million does not look good, but China has 1.386 billion...do the math

[cstanleytech]

11. That's assuming steps aren't taken like quarantining areas and people do not

take common sense precautions on their own such as making sure to wash my hands and stuff that a virus is around.

[herding cats]

14. Many people in China are wearing masks, and are trying to mitigate the spread.

People there are deeply concerned.

[braddy]

12. If a pandemic ever does hit America it is nice to know that I can easily avoid human contact for at

least a year if I chose to, although I assume a few months would be adequate.

My life is comfortable, the views are great, the weather is interesting enough and as long as the electricity and internet, and water stays on, everything would be fine.

[cstanleytech]

15. A year isn't to likely as most need a host to survive in the long term

with the majority dying after a few days to a few weeks.

[AllaN01Bear]

16. is this a new new virus or is this a new name to replace cronavirus ? need input pls ?

thanks in advance .