Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Local doctor: Flu likely more deadly than coronavirus
kristv.com ^ | 2-28-20 | Seth Kovar

Posted on 02/28/2020 9:20:28 PM PST by NoLibZone

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — While admitting we need more information about the COVID-19 coronavirus from China that's spreading worldwide, a local emergency-room doctor believes it eventually will be determined that it is 10 times less deadly than this year's flu strains.

"The influenza virus is actually about 10 times more serious than the coronavirus that we have around here," said Physicians Premier Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lonnie Schwirtlich.

That's right. The Coastal Bend has seen coronaviruses before. Questions remain, however, over how severe this new COVID-19 strain is.

That could change soon.

"What the coronavirus that's coming out of China is and what's its capabilities, we're not quite sure," said Dr. Schwirtlich. "But we're going to find out more now that there's a lot of it in (South Korea), because there we have more ability to find out the information that China is reluctant to let us know about."

His relatively low concern level about COVID-19 coronavirus does not ease the minds of some people who are visiting Corpus Christi.

"I'm concerned because I have -- my immune system is not good for me; myself," said Floren Lopez, who is visiting from San Francisco. "So it concerns me that I'm susceptible."

"I'm very concerned about it, and I don't really know what to do about it yet," said John Larsen, who's visiting from Kansas City. "I'm hoping we get some direction on what we can do, individually, to kind-of protect ourselves if it starts flaring out of control here or in our community."

Other visitors think they know what to do to prevent catching COVID-19 coronavirus, and they're not as concerned.

"If you don't want to have coronavirus is like saying you don't want to have the flu," said Genevieve Aspillaga, who was visiting the seawall from Toronto. "So just keep yourself clean and healthy."

Dr. Schwirtlich agrees with her.

"It's just like any infection out there," he said. "You need to try and avoid it if you can. You do that by avoiding people who are sick and washing your hands frequently."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: commoncold; coronavirus; covid19; democrathoax; endemicstupidity; flu; hysterics; sarscov2
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-75 next last

1 posted on 02/28/2020 9:20:28 PM PST by NoLibZone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: NoLibZone

Local doctor: “I have no idea what I’m talking about”


2 posted on 02/28/2020 9:21:17 PM PST by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NoLibZone
This virus kills between 2 to 3 percent of those who get it. The flu kills less than 1%.

Those are facts.

3 posted on 02/28/2020 9:22:21 PM PST by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC
He compared it to the cold coronavirus.

How many of our health professionals have not followed what went on in China, and are completely clueless?

4 posted on 02/28/2020 9:29:21 PM PST by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

This is not accurate. Blasting 2-3 % across the different age groups is very inaccurate .

WHO research suggests that the CFR for 50 and under was est 0.7%.
In younger age groups it drops under 0.4%

In short, it’s believe to be impacting the elderly and those with significant comorbidities the most


5 posted on 02/28/2020 9:30:23 PM PST by BluegrassCardinal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BluegrassCardinal
WHO research suggests that the CFR for 50 and under was est 0.7%. In younger age groups it drops under 0.4% In short, it’s believe to be impacting the elderly and those with significant comorbidities the most

They are people too. Are you saying it acceptable that they die?

6 posted on 02/28/2020 9:31:35 PM PST by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC
>>>They are people too. Are you saying it acceptable that they die?

I guess they are expendable. I wonder if he took the R0 into account and the much higher ICU rates needed - which could overwhelm the system? What happens then?

7 posted on 02/28/2020 9:34:50 PM PST by NELSON111 (Congress: The Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog s<how. Theater for sheep. My politics determines my "hero")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: NELSON111
I guess they are expendable. I wonder if he took the R0 into account and the much higher ICU rates needed - which could overwhelm the system? What happens then?

Yes, the ICU rates are the big show stopper. Overwhelming.

8 posted on 02/28/2020 9:36:51 PM PST by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

More people are likely to and have already gotten the flu in the US than the Coronavirus.


9 posted on 02/28/2020 9:41:41 PM PST by R_Kangel ("A nation of sheep will beget a nation ruled by wolves")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: R_Kangel
More people are likely to and have already gotten the flu in the US than the Coronavirus

Yup. But not for long. There are some with influenza immunity and others who have been vaccinated for influenza. There's no immunity or vaccine for covid 19.

10 posted on 02/28/2020 9:44:31 PM PST by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

Those figures are what is derived from what little detail is coming from Communist China.

Fact, NOT ONE American has died from this “so-called viral crisis”. Not one. The number of CONFIRMED Coronavirus cases in our country is a minuscule number even you can count on your hands and toes.
The majority are people contaminated are Chinese in a province with 2 Bio-Weapons labs in proximity to a large Wet Market.
The few “supposed” US local unknown origin of infection cases are still unconfirmed.
They are both in California and, the first was in a town that hosts a military base that is a point of entry and point of isolation facility. The second supposed unconfirmed is less than 100 miles from this same facility.
Again, not one person in this country has died from this virus.
Yet, every single year approximately 35000 Americans die from the common Flu Virus without anywhere near this hysteria. You are being played by the anti-Trump media and the dems. This is Russia, Russia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine,...all over again.


11 posted on 02/28/2020 9:46:47 PM PST by ocrp1982 (ll)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ocrp1982
Fact, NOT ONE American has died from this “so-called viral crisis”. Not one. The number of CONFIRMED Coronavirus cases in our country is a minuscule number even you can count on your hands and toes.

I'll bet that changes in a week...if not sooner.

12 posted on 02/28/2020 9:48:38 PM PST by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

..... There is no immunity to Covid-19? I had not heard of this. This is new. Where did you get this information from?


13 posted on 02/28/2020 9:49:34 PM PST by R_Kangel ("A nation of sheep will beget a nation ruled by wolves")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: R_Kangel

People keep getting reinfected. That’s what’s killing the middle age doctors in wuhan. So much for antibodies.

SK just reported its first re-infection.


14 posted on 02/28/2020 9:54:29 PM PST by proust (Justice delayed is injustice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

Nope, just suggesting it’s more useful to see the CFR among different age groups.

Would it be better if I told you this is the Captain Tripp’s virus and we’re all doomed? I know some people love to maximize the doom and concern trolling


15 posted on 02/28/2020 9:54:40 PM PST by BluegrassCardinal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: NELSON111

Fair enough, since conjecture is the name of the game.

Is it possible that the higher CFR in Wuhan is due to terrible air pollution, overcrowding, higher rates of cigarette smokers?

Nobody knows for certain what will happen here.


16 posted on 02/28/2020 9:59:53 PM PST by BluegrassCardinal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

lol. You’ll bet. How old are you? Four?
Do you not understand that the common flu kills many thousands every single year? IF this virus approximates that number how or why is it different?
Why should the entire world go into a panic over this given the FACT of the number of deaths every year from the yearly flu season?
Yet, while so many have died from the FLU and not one American has yet to die from this virus YOU predict doom and gloom.
What exactly is your basis for your position on this subject? Exactly what is your specific expertise in this specific area?
If you have knowledgeable educated insight that the world needs to be aware of please let the world and President Trumps Virus Task Force know about it.


17 posted on 02/28/2020 10:00:27 PM PST by ocrp1982 (ll)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: R_Kangel

Instead of creating immunity the virus can reportedly reinfect an individual and hasten fatal heart attack

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3879345

Chinese doctors say Wuhan coronavirus reinfection even deadlier

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3876197


18 posted on 02/28/2020 10:00:42 PM PST by proust (Justice delayed is injustice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: NoLibZone

“Local doctor: Flu likely more deadly than coronavirus”

Tell that to the people in multiple countries currently under quarantine.


19 posted on 02/28/2020 10:12:33 PM PST by ScottfromNJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BluegrassCardinal
Some of the news coming out of Iran seems just as bad. I think what caused the high CFR in China could be some of the factors you indicated - but I also believe it was other things, such as an overwhelmed medical system. When you have an R0 that is b/w R4-R6 and a CIR (ICU care) of b/w 14-20% - I think you have the potential to overwhelm a system very rapidly. You add that with the factors you gave - and you get this.

I believe this really isn't about the mortality rate - it's more of a supply chain disruption and a lifestyle change (resulting just from fear). You won't calm herd mentality.

One of the best pieces of advice I got early on in my stock trading career was to study trading psychology and herd mentality. Fear is an irrational beast. It drives the markets - and it drives people to panic. People can post on this forum all day long that all is well - but that won't keep your shelves stocked and food on your table if the herd begins to believe that all is not well...even if it really is.

20 posted on 02/28/2020 10:13:48 PM PST by NELSON111 (Congress: The Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog s<how. Theater for sheep. My politics determines my "hero")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-75 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson