Coronavirus latest: first human transmissions reported outside China

Nature ^ | 27 January 2020 | Staff

[Red Badger]

Updates on the respiratory illness that has infected thousands of people.

Scientists are increasingly concerned about a new virus that has infected thousands of people and can be deadly. The virus is a coronavirus, and belongs to the same family as the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. It causes a respiratory illness, can spread from person to person, and emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December.

Here’s the latest news on the outbreak.

28 January 16:00 GMT — Human-to-human transmissions outside China

The novel coronavirus has spread between humans outside of China, for the first time.

A German man acquired the infection from a colleague who had returned from Wuhan, according to news reports and a statement from Bavaria’s health ministry. In a 27 January update, the World Health Organization confirmed that a person in Vietnam acquired the virus from an infected family member. And media reports indicated today that a tour bus driver in Japan, who had transported tourists from Wuhan, also tested positive for the coronavirus.

Bavaria’s health ministry said it considered the risk of virus spreading further to be low. More cases of human-to-human spread outside of China are likely, Michael Head, an epidemiologist at the University of Southampton, UK, said in a statement distributed the UK Science Media Center. “But the indications are at this stage that onwards transmission will be limited.”

[BuffaloJack]

The fact that it is a corona virus is not special.
The common cold is usually a corona virus or sometimes a rhinovirus.
Human Corona Virus has nearly 100 or more common strains and almost all manifest as the common cold.
What makes this one bad is that it is a corona virus that has crossed species from some animal and we have no immunity to it. Most people doen’t die from Human Corona Virus, because they’ve been exposed dozens of times and have built up an immunity. We aren’t immune ones that have crossed species, like this one from bats or snakes.

[dp0622]

Yeah I expected there to Never be a transfer outside of China.

That’s sarcasm :)

[BuffaloJack]

The fact that it is a corona virus is not special.
The common cold is usually a corona virus or sometimes a rhinovirus.
Human Corona Virus has nearly 100 or more common strains and almost all manifest as the common cold.
What makes this one bad is that it is a corona virus that has crossed species from some animal and we have no immunity to it. Most people doen’t die from Human Corona Virus, because they’ve been exposed dozens of times and have built up an immunity. We aren’t immune to ones that have crossed species, like this one from bats or snakes.

[Magic Fingers]

“We aren’t immune to ones that have crossed species, like this one from bats or snakes.”

Or a biological warfare lab.

[Boogieman]

“Bavaria’s health ministry said it considered the risk of virus spreading further to be low.”

Are they taking bets?

[11th_VA]

Taiwan reports first native novel coronavirus infection

And so it begins ...

[DoodleBob]

welp... if one has been confirmed, how many have happened already?

Probably less than the number of people made sick yesterday across the nation who chowed down at all-you-can-eat buffets.

[SgtHooper]

IMHO, you got there to “help”, you damn well stay there until you are cleared to come home! Not like the ebola debacle where some of the help flew back home without a major quarantine.

[11th_VA]

DoodleBob reminds me of the Mayor in Jaws (substitutes the word Virus for Shark, and you’ll know what I mean:

Clip

[null and void]

Grain of salt here, there are a large number of Corona virii floating around that are little more than a minor annoyance.

Bring Out Your Dead

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

So far the false positive rate is 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

If a quarantine saves just one child's life, it's worth it.

[grumpygresh]

If this gets really bad, perhaps there would be a good way to test at home. As long as test is accurate, it could prevent those with routine colds and flus from going to hospital and getting infected. It could also reduce admissions and facilitate isolation.

[Uncle Sham]

I see a huge economic impact if this continues to spread to such a degree that movement of people and goods are reduced. Less movement of people helps protect us from catching this virus but reducing the movement of goods lowers profits and could have a dramatic effect on the stock market.

[DoodleBob]

The Mayor of Shark City challenges you to a $10 donation to FR, that this virus’ impact on America will not be materially higher than the annual influenza impact.

[11th_VA]

Add bGill to your ping list please

[null and void]

Done, but I generally prefer people ask themselves.

[bgill]

Thanks to any and all who have put me on a coronavirus list.