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The flu and the new coronavirus have similar symptoms, but the Coronavirus is far deadlier — here's how the 2 compare
Business Insider ^ | 03/04/2020 | Holly Secon

Posted on 03/04/2020 12:18:13 PM PST by SeekAndFind

The coronavirus outbreak came in the middle of flu season in the Northern Hemisphere.

Many people have highlighted the overlapping symptoms of the flu and COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Even President Donald Trump asked pharmaceutical execs if the flu vaccine could be used to stop the coronavirus.

But Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, warned against taking such comparisons too far.

"This virus is not SARS, it's not MERS, and it's not influenza," Ghebreyesus said in a press conference on Tuesday. "It is a unique virus with unique characteristics."

The most crucial difference between the flu and the coronavirus is that the latter has been far deadlier. Whereas about 0.1% of people who get the flu die, the coronavirus' death rate is now at about 3.4%, based on the current numbers of cases and deaths.

The fatality rate of the novel coronavirus is still evolving, however, as more cases are confirmed. Many health experts believe that the rate will drop as the number of cases rises. That's because an estimated 80% of coronavirus cases are mild, and patients checking into hospitals have the most severe symptoms. People with symptoms mild enough to recover at home without seeking medical treatment aren't counted in the official totals.

The novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, in December has killed over 3,200 people and infected nearly 94,000 people, mostly in China. It has spread to at least 80 other countries. The US has confirmed more than 125 cases and at least nine deaths.

Older people are far likelier to die from the coronavirus than younger people, and the same is true for the flu — though not to the same extent.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: coronavirus; covid19; flu; sarscov2; yact
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To: Brian Griffin

“Many school systems may have to close down, and less to protect the children, who would only get a mild to severe “cold”, than to protect their older relatives.”

Mild or severe, they’re still gonna have to give up at least two weeks of their life for it, if they get it. They’ll be able to spread the virus for at least 2 weeks, feeling sick or not - so quarantine it is.


21 posted on 03/04/2020 12:39:26 PM PST by LouieFisk
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To: central_va

That is true. NO ONE, friends, family or neighbors has brought it up in conversation. Pretty weird if you ask me. Online seems to be the place to discuss it.


22 posted on 03/04/2020 12:40:20 PM PST by DivineMomentsOfTruth ("There is but one straight course, ad that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily." -GW)
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To: Brian Griffin
They deal with doctors, nurses, people who make up their beds, deliver meals....etc etc. on a daily basis.

The entire building is contaminated once it starts.

23 posted on 03/04/2020 12:40:26 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: LouieFisk

Schools have closed down before because of the flu...many, many times. Hardly a new concept.


24 posted on 03/04/2020 12:42:13 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: SeekAndFind
"125 cases and at least nine deaths."

Death rate in U.S. is 7.2% so far if anybody cares.

25 posted on 03/04/2020 12:43:07 PM PST by Sirius Lee (They are openly stating that they intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live.)
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To: All

All I hear in South Carolina is the virus is a democrat hoax to keep President Trump from being reelected. People get very angry about it, if you believe the coronavirus serious.

This group will not take any precautions.


26 posted on 03/04/2020 12:43:59 PM PST by DEPcom
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To: Bob434

“That’s all i hear when i go out- Everyone is talking about it”

The panic buying keep picking up:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/03/04/coronavirus-us-spurs-panic-buying-stock-pandemic-pantries/4950835002

Fortunately it hasn’t reach nutso proportions so far. Mostly certain items are low/out of stock.


27 posted on 03/04/2020 12:44:19 PM PST by LouieFisk
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To: Sirius Lee

I actually think there are lots more cases..not to minimize those who are part of your stats


28 posted on 03/04/2020 12:44:33 PM PST by goodnesswins (Want to know your family genealogy? Run for political office...")
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To: central_va

****The novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, in December has killed over 3,200 people ******(3 months)

I tried to find numerical data on the millions of people who die each year, but could only find percentages.

Causes -
natural disasters, volcanos, earthquakes, starvation,old age, cancer, auto accidents, drowning, suicide etc.,


29 posted on 03/04/2020 12:45:42 PM PST by sodpoodle (Life is prickly - carry tweezers)
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To: SeekAndFind

The money quote: 80% of people with the Wuhan flu are not counted in the mortality cal ulation.


30 posted on 03/04/2020 12:46:34 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: Sirius Lee

“Death rate in U.S. is 7.2% so far if anybody cares.”

We dont, because it is not.

But you clowns will keep jerking to this dumbass number until you croak of old age.


31 posted on 03/04/2020 12:47:18 PM PST by VanDeKoik
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To: Sirius Lee

“125 cases and at least nine deaths.”

“Death rate in U.S. is 7.2% so far if anybody cares.”

The numbers are unique in representation and the low amount of victims, though. As the numbers increase, I’d expect that % to go down to about 3%, reflecting wider demographics.


32 posted on 03/04/2020 12:48:17 PM PST by LouieFisk
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To: LouieFisk

yeah, that could change though- right now, we’re in the very very early stages of the virus- it’s not steamrolling across states yet- as soon as that happens, people will go nuts- Right now the virus is being spread by people that don’t even know they have it- a person can have it for 2 weeks, and have no or few symptoms, but still be able to spread it to others- so folks don’t even realize they are spreading it- and lots of folks likely think they have a harmless cold- so they don’t ‘isolate’- this i think ‘could be’ like a brush fire that is slowly fanning out, but will soon reach a highly flammable fuel soaked Forrest once it really takes hold- then we’ll see people panic- IF that is how this takes shape- it could ‘burn itself out’ of course- but I suspect it won’t-


33 posted on 03/04/2020 12:49:37 PM PST by Bob434
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To: Sacajaweau

“Schools have closed down before because of the flu...many, many times. Hardly a new concept.”

I think you replied to the wrong person there. But, at nay rate, the relevant question then is: how many schools closed last season due to COVID-19?


34 posted on 03/04/2020 12:50:50 PM PST by LouieFisk
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To: goodnesswins

[[I actually think there are lots more cases]]

I think so too- many folks with it have either mild or no real symptoms- so they aren’t going to doctors to be counted as one of the infected- probably a lot of folks walking around right now with it- not even realizing it-


35 posted on 03/04/2020 12:51:45 PM PST by Bob434
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To: Bob434

Yeah, I’m hope it just burns itself out, also - that it just peters out. I’m not sure how or why that would just happen, though.


36 posted on 03/04/2020 12:53:25 PM PST by LouieFisk
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To: TonyM
The flu kills you dead but the Corona virus kills you dead dead.

Hand washing advice for New Mexicans:

Wash your hands like you just peeled a sack of green chile and need to take out your contact lenses.

37 posted on 03/04/2020 12:53:35 PM PST by CedarDave (Wash your hands like you just peeled a sack of green chile and need to take out your contact lenses.)
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To: VanDeKoik

Aw, did I huwwt youww feeweeings?


38 posted on 03/04/2020 12:54:33 PM PST by Sirius Lee (They are openly stating that they intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live.)
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To: Sirius Lee

The deaths in the nursing home were a cluster...Really can’t put them in the death equation.


39 posted on 03/04/2020 12:55:00 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: central_va

I just had a customer come in to pay his monthly bill, and that’s pretty much all we talked about, but then, I’m only 60 miles away from Washington states epicenter. Kind of a big topic around here.


40 posted on 03/04/2020 12:57:22 PM PST by Mama Shawna
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