Wuhan Coronavirus

[Pretty Boy]

So how bad is this do we reckon?

China massively downplayed, some would say tried to cover up, SARS when it was first reported. They are reporting a death rate of approx. 3%, about the same as the seasonal flu, yet public whole transport systems are being shutdown, flights grounded and a city is being placed into quarantine. I'm not buying it.

It will be interesting, and potentially scary, to see how this develops.

[Cataplana]

So how bad is this do we reckon?

China massively downplayed, some would say tried to cover up, SARS when it was first reported. They are reporting a death rate of approx. 3%, about the same as the seasonal flu, yet public whole transport systems are being shutdown, flights grounded and a city is being placed into quarantine. I'm not buying it.

It will be interesting, and potentially scary, to see how this develops.

There is a virus scare at this time most years, which results in the purchase of large amounts of vaccine.

I'm not one of the anti vaccine community, but you can have some sympathy for their theory that Big Pharma deliberately spreads fear to sell more of their product.

The hospital admissions here will be as a result of raised temperatures when screened at the airport. Further blood tests needed to establish the existence of a virus, it shows good planning that isolation rooms are available and in use.

[Sylar]

It'll be interesting to see just how much of a threat is now posed to the UK, as the influx of Chinese students return to the UK after the festive period. I note that one Edinburgh Uni student is already being tested/observed, and most Scottish universities have sizeable Chinese populations.

[Since90+2]

So how bad is this do we reckon?

China massively downplayed, some would say tried to cover up, SARS when it was first reported. They are reporting a death rate of approx. 3%, about the same as the seasonal flu, yet public whole transport systems are being shutdown, flights grounded and a city is being placed into quarantine. I'm not buying it.

It will be interesting, and potentially scary, to see how this develops.

I suspect the actual mortality rate will be much lower than 3%. That figure is based on the current known numbers of those infected but there will be many many more who haven't been diagnosed as in alot of people the symptoms are thought to be mild.

[Pretty Boy]

It's amazing how much the world has moved on in 15-20 years. SARS went unreported for weeks in part because a file sharing system didn't have the capability to translate to languages other than English and French.

Today we have thousands of people on the ground sharing pictures and videos of what is 'really' happening on social media.

[BroxburnHibee]

Whatever happens it's clear that something like this will eventually wipe the human race out.

That's if Trump doesn't manage it first

[Onceinawhile]

I don't drink corona, so I'll be fine.

[greenlex]

I can’t get the name out of my head. It sounds like a Monday hangover sicky excuse. Along with Stellavirus and Peronivirus.

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Agenda 21 - we're through the looking glass people🛸🛸

[heretoday]

It'll be interesting to see just how much of a threat is now posed to the UK, as the influx of Chinese students return to the UK after the festive period. I note that one Edinburgh Uni student is already being tested/observed, and most Scottish universities have sizeable Chinese populations.

An old lady we know is now scared to get the bus on Calder Road because of all the Chinese students from Napier.

It's not funny really.

[Jones28]

This is not to be confused with the Corona virus. It manifests by putting limes in your beer, turning you into a twat that wears too tight a white t-shirt, jeans that are too short and usually means you spend an inordinate amount of time in the gym.

[Jay]

One of my sons works as cabin crew and im worried about all the recycled air hes breathing on four flights a day. Its a real worry for people, even if he gets it and is fine Im currently more vulnerable and i have an elderly mother.

[Renfrew_Hibby]

It's put me right off bat soup.

[Cataplana]

Agenda 21 - we're through the looking glass people🛸🛸

What's Agenda 21?

[Sylar]

What's Agenda 21?

One assumes the gentleman/lady is referring to this: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jun/24/agenda-21-conspiracy-theory-sustainability

[Cataplana]

One assumes the gentleman/lady is referring to this: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jun/24/agenda-21-conspiracy-theory-sustainability

I just feel if the objective is to reduce the world population by 90% 20 people dying in China, is not very good progress .

Electric mass transit systems and the annihilation of private motoring are much more on track.

I'll stick with my Big Pharma theory, particularly as Newsnight interviewed a guy in Davos last night, who works for Welcome Trust.

He confirmed a vaccine could be six months away yet, but definitely is trying to find a vaccine.

(Cynics may say the vaccine already exists, and the virus has been known for some time, and a global panic is their very effective marketing technique.)

[Wilson]

An old lady we know is now scared to get the bus on Calder Road because of all the Chinese students from Napier.

It's not funny really.

Must be my sense of humour but that kind of is.

[Hibrandenburg]

I just feel if the objective is to reduce the world population by 90% 20 people dying in China, is not very good progress .

Electric mass transit systems and the annihilation of private motoring are much more on track.

I'll stick with my Big Pharma theory, particularly as Newsnight interviewed a guy in Davos last night, who works for Welcome Trust.

He confirmed a vaccine could be six months away yet, but definitely is trying to find a vaccine.

(Cynics may say the vaccine already exists, and the virus has been known for some time, and a global panic is their very effective marketing technique.)

The Kung Flu has it's source in China so it would be the Chinese pharmaceutical industry that created it, either that or the west has started a biological war with China, which I find rather unlikely.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Dearie me! (http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/netflix-fans-convinced-coronavirus-outbreak-21351960)

[RyeSloan]

I just feel if the objective is to reduce the world population by 90% 20 people dying in China, is not very good progress .

Electric mass transit systems and the annihilation of private motoring are much more on track.

I'll stick with my Big Pharma theory, particularly as Newsnight interviewed a guy in Davos last night, who works for Welcome Trust.

He confirmed a vaccine could be six months away yet, but definitely is trying to find a vaccine.

(Cynics may say the vaccine already exists, and the virus has been known for some time, and a global panic is their very effective marketing technique.)

The truth is probably around about the opposite of your suspicions.

This outbreak has actually shown just how far co-operation has been developed. Not just with the identification and sequencing of the virus now being many time’s faster than before but also the ability to sequence it and share across the globe without actual samples needed.

Then you can see the multiple agencies and companies involved in fast tracking a vaccine. And to top it off we now have multiple angles of attack based on the phenomenal development and research that’s being going on in all aspects of disease and infection treatment.

Reuter’s has an good piece on some of this: https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-vaccines/with-wuhan-virus-genetic-code-in-hand-scientists-begin-work-on-a-vaccine-idUKKBN1ZN2J8

[Cataplana]

The Kung Flu has it's source in China so it would be the Chinese pharmaceutical industry that created it, either that or the west has started a biological war with China, which I find rather unlikely.

It's a bit of speculation. I can't defend that position with evidence.

Let's see how this pans out. If it is a real threat then the precautions are totally justified.

[lord bunberry]

Surely this is just another sensationalist news story. I’m pretty sure the flu has killed loads of people this year already as it does every year. There’s no evidence to support the hysteria that the news channels are trying to whip up. 17 deaths so far is less than a nomination for a Darwin Award. Eventually there inevitably be a mass pandemic, but this isn’t it.

[Jones28]

I just saw a post on Facebook - I’m sure it was the Guardian - that said one of the affected cities is building a specialist hospital and it will take 6 days.

[Colr]

I just feel if the objective is to reduce the world population by 90% 20 people dying in China, is not very good progress .

Electric mass transit systems and the annihilation of private motoring are much more on track.

I'll stick with my Big Pharma theory, particularly as Newsnight interviewed a guy in Davos last night, who works for Welcome Trust.

He confirmed a vaccine could be six months away yet, but definitely is trying to find a vaccine.

(Cynics may say the vaccine already exists, and the virus has been known for some time, and a global panic is their very effective marketing technique.)

I think that there is a secret society of conspiracy theorists who meet regularly in a hollowed out deserted island and control social media through their secret connections they make up stuff and disseminate it if they are not paid a ransom.

[Fuzzywuzzy]

I just saw a post on Facebook - I’m sure it was the Guardian - that said one of the affected cities is building a specialist hospital and it will take 6 days.

Aye, and it's taken the council years to build a 50 metre bridge for the burnshot!!😂

[lapsedhibee]

Aye, and it's taken the council years to build a 50 metre bridge for the burnshot!!😂

That is taking a phenomenally long time. Any proper reason? :dunno:

[Jones28]

Aye, and it's taken the council years to build a 50 metre bridge for the burnshot!!😂

Industrious little fellows that they are. 😂

[Colr]

Aye, and it's taken the council years to build a 50 metre bridge for the burnshot!!😂

Tendering it through OJEU takes about a year!!

[Cataplana]

I think that there is a secret society of conspiracy theorists who meet regularly in a hollowed out deserted island and control social media through their secret connections they make up stuff and disseminate it if they are not paid a ransom.

Where is this island?

I think when faced with a frightening situation there is all sorts of crazy speculation, from pretending there is nothing to fear, to doomsday scenarios.

The truth is probably in the middle.

[Cataplana]

I just saw a post on Facebook - I’m sure it was the Guardian - that said one of the affected cities is building a specialist hospital and it will take 6 days.

It's a quarantine facility. Beijing built one in 7 days in the SARS scare.

Largely possible due to pre fabricated buildings.

[Hibrandenburg]

Looks like there's been a massive rise in infections. Now reports of 56 deaths. I really can't see how this can be contained, especially bearing in mind that with this virus people become infectious before they star showing symptoms.

[SRHibs]

So how bad is this do we reckon?

China massively downplayed, some would say tried to cover up, SARS when it was first reported. They are reporting a death rate of approx. 3%, about the same as the seasonal flu, yet public whole transport systems are being shutdown, flights grounded and a city is being placed into quarantine. I'm not buying it.

It will be interesting, and potentially scary, to see how this develops.

I doubt the mortality rate of regular Flu touches even 0.5%, nevermind 3%. Amongst the elderly, possibly.

It's a pretty interesting situation to watch develop, as you say. Considering the incubation period of up to a week, you get the feeling the efforts to contain it are all a bit hollow now.

[jonty]

An old work colleague of mine was in hospital in the UK a couple of years with this virus which led to pneumonia. Had a long stay in quarantine and missed his kids first birthday. Thankfully he got through it.

[Since90+2]

China will knock up a vaccine for this in the next 10 days or so.

Reports already coming out that they have successfully cured the virus on 7 hospital workers.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1233644/coronavirus-china-virus-vaccine-treatment-cure-symptoms

[AugustaHibs]

Global health emergency now.

[RyeSloan]

Global health emergency now.

But wait a minute, the Express has already suggested there was a cure!

Maybe those at WHO are not readers of said rag....

[SRHibs]

But wait a minute, the Express has already suggested there was a cure!

Maybe those at WHO are not readers of said rag....

Could take up to a year develop the vaccine from what I read. The mortality rate is 25-30x higher than season flu, and 20% of people infected develop pneumonia or severe respiratory failure.

Pretty scary stuff.

[stoneyburn hibs]

My son is actually concerned about getting back to China, he's back home just now and due to fly back a week today.

[Mr Grieves]

First cases in the UK, two people from the same family in England

[Smartie]

Some rumours out there just now that this may have been some sort of bioweapon - the virus is found to have "HIV insertions".

The good news is that it seems to be responding to HIV medication (and flu medication).

I hope this is not true because there is something really sinister about the idea of bioengineered viruses designed to be super-virulent.


http://https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/coronavirus-contains-hiv-insertions-stoking-fears-over-artificially-created-bioweapon

http://https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1849024/thai-doctors-say-two-drug-groups-help-cure-patient

[Sylar]

Some rumours out there just now that this may have been some sort of bioweapon - the virus is found to have "HIV insertions".

The good news is that it seems to be responding to HIV medication (and flu medication).

I hope this is not true because there is something really sinister about the idea of bioengineered viruses designed to be super-virulent.


http://https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/coronavirus-contains-hiv-insertions-stoking-fears-over-artificially-created-bioweapon

http://https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1849024/thai-doctors-say-two-drug-groups-help-cure-patient

It genuinely sounds like a script from one of the Division games, the more I read about it.

It'll be really interesting to see how China handle a nationwide quarantine given the sheer scale of the country and its population - it has the potential to significantly reduce the population if it continues to spread amongst the Chinese populous, and those neighbouring countries that are now experiencing it.

[Hibrandenburg]

Government now saying the Corona Virus is a serious and imminent threat.

[lapsedhibee]

Government now saying the Corona Virus is a serious and imminent threat.

Imagine if this virus did turn out to be a widespread problem in the UK and Matt ******* Hancock was in charge of dealing with it. :bitchy: