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In reply to the discussion: China Cases Top 20,000; U.S. Braces for Pandemic: Virus Update [View all]Ms. Toad
(34,074 posts)A lot of it will depend on China keeping it to themselves. (Containing it, slowing down the transmission, etc.)
Other countries need to be sensible with quarantines for people entering from China - 14 days seems like a relatively safe period - I was very grateful when the US woke up in time to impose it on those evacuated from the epicenter in China.
People need to be more careful about contact. I don't get the influenza vaccine - and I'm pretty sure the last time I had the flu was 2009 when my daughter had it and I had to ride in a small car with her for about an hour. I get a mild cold perhaps every other year.
I've worked with bosses who insisted on coming to work sick (pretending they weren't), coughing, sneezing, wiping snotty hands all over papers they handed me to work on. It was those bosses who inspired me (in advance of surgery I didn't want to delay) to develop better hygiene habits. I haven't directly touched a door handle coming out of a bathroom in years. I never touch any door handle during the period in which I wear long sleeves (roughly corresponding to the flu season). I obsessively wash my hands. I avoid touching my face unless i've just washed my hands. If i do have a cold, I never touch my face or blow my nose without instantly using hand sanitizer (and washing at least once an hour).
Some of those are to protect me - some are to protect others.
It is not inevitable that if you are around people with a viral infection that you will acquire it.