New Chinese virus 'will have infected hundreds'
Source: BBC
By James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent
3 hours ago
The number of people already infected by the mystery virus emerging in China is far greater than official figures suggest, scientists have told the BBC.
There have been nearly 50 confirmed cases of the new virus, but UK experts estimate the figure is closer to 1,700.
Two people are known to have died from the respiratory illness, which appeared in Wuhan city in December.
"I am substantially more concerned than I was a week ago," disease outbreak scientist, Prof Neil Ferguson, said.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51148303
bucolic_frolic
(42,676 posts)anymore than Democrats
defacto7
(13,485 posts)Once the earth has brushed us off it will heal and continue as if we never existed. Our entire existance on this planet is just a passing itch.
But that doesn't match up with your analogy. Hell yeah, Democrats aren't going down without a blistering fight, not this one anyway.
NRaleighLiberal
(59,940 posts)defacto7
(13,485 posts)We feed on our host until the host dies or we do, the definition of a virus. In this scheme we are like a summer cold to the planet. We will pass. Pushing the narative, I bet the earth builds an immunity to the likes of our kind once we're gone. What a wonderful system mother earth is.
paleotn
(17,781 posts)but even they are a naturally occurring phenomenon and important in certain ecosystems. Evolution produces some "woopsies" every now and then and we're simply the latest in a long line. Those novel mutations we collectively call intelligence got a bit out of control. For all our perceived "power", it's human arrogance to think we can extinguish life on this planet. Only astronomical forces can and only the most extreme ones at that. Life is far more tenacious and vastly more ancient than we can even imagine with our puny brains.
California_Republic
(1,826 posts)The earth is alive
Saw this show that said the earth behaves very much like a living organism. And yes it has an infection now and a fever.
Yavin4
(35,357 posts)"Wow, that was crazy. Humans are nuts. Alright, who's next?"
Farmer-Rick
(10,072 posts)Ok so China was at the center of the bird flu. In 2019, most of the pig population of China died due to the African Swine flu. And now this disease.
I wonder why they seem to be at the center of new diseases?
Takket
(21,425 posts)extreme population density hastens viruses spreading, rampant air pollution in the cities weakening immune systems to start, lots of close contact with animals coupled with healthy and food safety standards being much less, exotic diets...
Yavin4
(35,357 posts)China is learning the lessons that the West learned in its early days of capitalism. As you grow, you must have strong regulations otherwise the population becomes vulnerable to disease.
NickB79
(19,114 posts)Many viruses that can replicate in pigs can also replicate in humans. And China had the world's largest hog herds.
Farmer-Rick
(10,072 posts)But they are all dead now.....well almost all.