The Wuhan coronavirus has resulted in nearly 1,400 deaths and over 63,000 infections so far. Experts are on the verge of upgrading? Changing? the disease’s designation from an epidemic to a pandemic. The difference between the two lies in the area of the spread.
An epidemic is the sudden surge of a disease in a concentrated local area, while a pandemic signals the disease’s ability to infect internationally.
Due to this unsettling news, Americans anxiously wait for the disease to spread in the U.S. More hoaxes and scares of the coronavirus have been reported than the actual thing. Americans, though, should fear a disease that festers annually in their country: the flu.
According to the CDC, in the U.S. alone, the flu—or influenza—was estimated to be responsible for over 61,000 deaths between 2017-2018. At that time, the flu was declared an epidemic.
Currently, the CDC’s map of the flu’s activity level shows most of the U.S. in a stark red, the color reserved for the highest level of activity. Although often overlooked, the flu is deadly to the most vulnerable in the population: children and the elderly.
The most recent flu strain has been particularly deadly to children, causing schools across the nation to close.
The coronavirus is scary and is worth monitoring, but it’s unfamiliarity in the American vernacular gives it a heightened sense of danger. Even though the flu is more deadly annually, Americans are too familiar with it to be scared.
When Americans think of the flu they think of a quarterback in a Nyquil commercial. When they think of the coronavirus, conversely, they think of empty train cars or people in hazmat suits and facemasks.
Another factor is the annual, common knowledge of the flu shot. The possibility of vaccination eases the public’s fears even though public participation is underwhelming. Although participation rose from last year for adults and children, from 39% to 46%, the majority of Americans go unvaccinated.
I wonder if the flu should be made more unfamiliar in American media and culture. Would it be a public service, in a way, to lend the flu more danger and fear than it currently has?
Additionally, is there a new angle that could be taken to market the flu vaccine to the American public?
For now, I hope for a rational amount of caution concerning the current state of the coronavirus. Its unfamiliar name and death-toll-leading headlines unfortunately lend too much panic due to the fear of the unknown. We should focus on the facts and wash our hands.
True Dabill can be reached at dabi7280@stthomas.edu.
You don’t understand the nature of the problem. The flu is a highly infectious but largely harmless disease in terms of mortality rates (far less than 1%). We have acceptable treatments for the flu even though we can’t save everyone.
But China has quarantined 400 million people, they are spraying their streets and inside of buildings with a disinfectant (reportedly a low concentration bleach and water solution), and everyone who goes near a suspected Covid-19 patient wears protective gear.
They don’t do that for the flu.
Worse, the mortality rate for coronavirus is alarmingly high. Despite media reports of a 2.2% MR, the actual current rate is above 17%. You calculate it by dividing (Confirmed deaths) by (Confirmed deaths + Confirmed recoveries). You cannot include all the unresolved infections that have been reported because we don’t know where they end up.
Everyone agrees China’s data is incomplete. It does appear even with the incomplete data that a majority of people recover from the virus. But if the 17%-ish MR holds up (and this is the 2nd day in a row it’s stayed above 17%), that means about 1 in 6 people will die from this virus.
That hasn’t happened with the flu in 100 years.
Every ship and plane coming out of China is being quarantined. Every nation is tracking down anyone who has had contact with people in China. The USA has designated 13 military bases as quarantine locations.
They don’t do this for the flu.
This disease is much…
My last sentence in the previous comment was going to be:
This disease is much worse than the flu.