Why do people panic about an unknown disease ?
The flu has already killed 10,000 across US as world frets ...
Feb 03, 2020 · At least 19 million people have come down with the flu in the U.S. with 180,000 ending up in the hospital, according to the Centers for Disease Control and …
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That is an article from CNBC a few weeks ago. 10,000 Americans have died from the yearly flu so far this winter. Although some experts say numbers like that are greatly overstated, it is probably fair to say that many Americans die from the regular flu every year.
Yet, generally, people do not fear the flu and certainly there is never a discernible "panic" about it.
Yet, a new virus comes along that presents flu like symptoms in the afflicted, and suddenly a "panic" is on the horizon if not already on the doorstep. The stock market is floundering, events are being cancelled (Facebook just canceled a big internal event) and the media is starting to demonstrate hyper concern.
Why is this so?
I think the fear of coronavirus can be attributed to pop culture. Human beings are trained to be afraid of the unknown, and to a certain extent trained to enjoy being afraid of things beyond our control. An epidemic of an exotic disease falls into a "boogeyman" category of the unknown, like zombies and monsters and nuclear war and maniac serial killers.
One of Stephen King's most popular novels is about an epidemic
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The Stand - Wikipedia
The Stand is a postapocalyptic horror/fantasy novel by American author Stephen King. It expands upon the scenario of his earlier short story "Night Surf", and presents a detailed vision of the total breakdown of society after the accidental release of a strain of influenza that had been modified for biological warfare causes an apocalyptic pandemic, killing off over 99% of the world's population . Published in 1978, The Stand is the fourth and longest novel King published.
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And of course there have been many movies dealing with plague like spread of disease, such as Contagion, Outbreak, World War Z, and 12 Monkeys.
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22 Movies About Epidemics That Could End The World - onedio.co
We still feel there'll be outbreaks in the future which we can't avoid. This theme was used in movies from dramas to thrillers. We put together 22 of them that will make you appreciate how valuable being healthy is. The movies are listed according to their IMDb ratings. Enjoy the …
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Such thoughts are part of the culture and have to do with primeval fears of losing control and not being able to make sense of one's existence.
One note I find interesting - a flu epidemic in 1918 infected 500,000,000 people world wide, and killed 50,000,000. Yet we hardly ever hear the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-19 used as a reference point for comparisons to any modern epidemics.
Is there basis for widespread fear about coronavirus? My personal feeling is that it is overblown, but I am watching and wondering like everyone else.
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I dont have any fears about catching this disease, although I wouldnt go into a building where I knew that people were infected were there.
That is my attitude until I hear otherwise.
No doubt its being overblown in the media but i suppose better overblown than under-blown in the long run. Better safe than sorry.
I for one enjoy the change because it's not political news although some have already managed to make it that as well.
I think the media does it on purpose. We're constantly bombarded by news stories that say we need to be worried about one thing or another. Being told what we should or shouldn't own or do after a certain age. If you get a twinge in your big toe it may indicate some bigger, deadlier problem. It's as if we're supposed to live near the edge of abject terror all the time.
You’re espousing common sense and that shit’s just not gonna fly. We need a jillion rules.
Because it's unknown ...... duh!
Panic, panic, panic.
The media is hoping for a pandemic
And the media overstates and hypes the issue because fear and panic raise viewer ratings which translates to more money. How many new ways over the winter has MSM found new ways to describe a "Snowmagadden".
Why would anyone want a pandemic?
While I think it is important to be informed, panicking people isn't good either. On the other hand, there is no way to avoid what is actually happening in order to keep this under control. I guess it's how it's reported rather than just reporting.
They're desperate at this point, 3 1/2 years of trying to destroy Trump and it still looks like he'll be reelected. The Media is so used to being able to mold public opinion, they make Stars and they break Stars, they set the trends and tell the people what they need and what's best for them. They just can't believe it hasn't worked this time but they'll keep trying.
A large number of Democrats would welcome one as long as it didn't affect them personally and hurt Trump's chances of being reelected.
These people have been praying for a collapse of America's economy, to them, the coronavirus is a god-sent. They view 2-3 million Americans dying as collateral damage. Anything to keep Trump from being reelected is a good thing.
That makes no sense. We would all know that any economic collapse happened from forces outside Trump's realm. I really can't buy what you are saying, with the exception of some nutters.
Do you mean Bernie supporters?
I gave you the reason in my article. It has nothing to do with Trump and everything to do with our culture. People like being scared of the unknown from time to time. Now that information is instantaneous the scope of the fear is easily expanded and magnified.
Come on... do better than that.
Prove that.... oh yeah... you can't.
How about addressing the issue? There is no purpose in scaring people.
Ratings, if you're in the media. Power, if you're in politics. People have screwed up priorities.
This is a list of the coutries that have confirmed cases of corona virus
Coronavirus: Which countries have confirmed cases?
Afghanistan - 1
Afghanistan confirmed its first case of coronavirus on February 24. The minister of public health declared a state of emergency in the western province of Herat, which borders Iran.
Algeria - 1
A 61-year-old Italian, who arrived in Algeria on February 17 from Italy, tested positive for the coronavirus.
Australia - 23
Australia has confirmed 22 cases of the virus as of February 23, including several passengers evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, according to the Australian government.
Austria - 2
Austria confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus on February 25, two Italians who live in the province and were probably infected in Italy's Lombardy region, according to authorities.
Bahrain - 33
Bahrain said on February 27 that the number of coronavirus infections has risen to 33.
Belgium - 1
Belgium said on February 4 that one of nine Belgian citizens repatriated from Wuhan had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Brazil - 1
Brazil's government confirmed on February 26 that a 61-year-old Brazilian man who traveled to Italy this month has Latin America's first confirmed case of the contagious new coronavirus.
The Brazilian man spent two weeks in northern Italy's Lombardy region on a work trip, where he contracted the contagious virus, the health ministry said.
Cambodia - 1
Cambodia confirmed its first case of coronavirus on January 27.
Minister of Health Mam Bunheng said the patient was a 60-year-old Chinese national in the coastal city of Sihanoukville.
Canada - 12
Canada has confirmed twelve cases of the coronavirus as of February 26 - the majority in the province of Ontario and British Columbia.
China - 78,497
As of February 27, a total of 78,497 people in mainland China were confirmed as having been infected with the virus, most of them in the central province of Hubei. At least 2,744 people have died, according to the WHO.
The city of Macau has confirmed 10 cases. Hong Kong reported 93 confirmed cases, including two deaths.
Croatia - 3
Three people have tested positive for the virus, including a young man who recently stayed in Italy and his brother. A third case was detected on February 26 in a man who works in the Italian city of Parma.
Denmark - 1
Denmark has confirmed its first coronavirus infection on February 27 in a man who returned from a ski holiday in northern Italy. The man was put in isolation in his own home.
Egypt - 1
Egypt's health ministry reported its first confirmed case of the coronavirus on February 14. It is the first known case in Africa.
Officials said the infected person was a foreign national and on February 19, the World Health Organization said he had been discharged.
Estonia - 1
Estonia has confirmed its first coronavirus case on February 27 in a permanent resident of the country who returned from his native Iran.
Finland - 2
A Chinese tourist who was admitted to hospital for tests was confirmed on January 29 as infected with the coronavirus.
The patient is said to be a 32-year-old woman from Wuhan.
A female Finnish patient who had visited Milan in Italy was diagnosed with the coronavirus on February 26.
France - 38
France has more than doubled the number of confirmed cases in 24 hours, with the tally reaching 38 on February 27.
Health officials said that out of the 38 cases, two people had died, 12 were cured and 24 were hospitalised, with two of them being in a "serious condition".
The first victim was an 80-year-old Chinese tourist, who died in mid-February.
Georgia - 1
Georgia reported the first case of coronavirus in the country on February 26 involving a citizen who was travelling from Iran and crossed the border from neighbouring Azerbaijan.
Germany - 26
A couple in Germany's most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus. As of February 27, the the total number of cases in the country is 26.
Greece - 3
Greece confirmed its first coronavirus case on February 26, involving a 38-year-old woman in Thessaloniki who returned from Italy's Milan.
On February 27, two new cases were confirmed, one of which concerned a relative of the first patient.
India - 3
On February 3, a third positive case of the coronavirus was reported in India's southern state of Kerala, the country's health ministry said .
All three are students who returned from Wuhan, according to local media.
Iran - 388
Thirty-four people have been confirmed dead in Iran because of the coronavirus as of February 28. The total number of people diagnosed with the virus stands at 388.
Among prominent people who tested positive for the virus is Masoumeh Ebtekar, vice president of Iran for Women.
Iraq - 6
Iraq reported the first case of coronavirus in the capital Baghdad on February 27, its sixth in total. A man contracted the virus after a trip to Iran.
Israel - 3
On February 27, Israel reported its third case of coronavirus after a man who returned from Italy tested positive. Two previous patients were evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.
Italy - 650
As of February 27, the number of confirmed cases in Italy stood at 650, mostly centred in the country's north. On the same day, three more people died in Italy from coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 17.
Japan - 189 and 705
A total of 705 people on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Yokohama had tested positive for the virus as of February 27. Four elderly people who were on the ship have died.
Japan does not include the people on board as part of its national tally, in accordance with WHO guidance. The national tally is 189 as of February 27, including four deaths.
Kuwait - 43
On February 27, Kuwait's heath ministry said 43 cases have been confirmed in the country. All of the infected people arrived from Iran.
Lebanon - 3
The first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Lebanon on February 21 after a woman arriving from Iran tested positive.
On February 27, the country registered a third case involving a man arriving from Iran.
Lithuania - 1
Lithuania's government reported the country's first confirmed case of coronavirus in a woman who returned this week from a visit to Italy's northern city of Verona.
Malaysia - 22
Malaysia has a total of 22 confirmed cases as of February 23.
On February 19, the country's health ministry said 15 of the cases had recovered and been discharged from hospital.
Nepal - 1
Nepal said on January 24 that a 32-year-old man arriving from Wuhan had tested positive for coronavirus.
The patient, who was initially quarantined, recovered and was discharged. The government said surveillance has been increased at the airport "and suspicious patients entering Nepal are being monitored".
Netherlands - 2
On February 27, a patient in the Netherlands was diagnosed as the country's first case.
The Dutch National Institute for Public Health said in a statement the patient in the southern city of Tilburg had recently travelled in northern Italy and was being treated in isolation.
On February 28, a second case was confirmed in the capital city of Amsterdam.
North Macedonia - 1
North Macedonia's health minister said on February 26 that a woman who recently arrived from Italy is the country's first confirmed case.
The woman, who sought medical help early that day, drove to North Macedonia from Italy in a van. All other passengers from the van are undergoing tests, Health Minister Venko Filipce said.
Norway - 1
Norway announced its first case of the new coronavirus on February 26 in a person who returned from China.
Oman - 4
Oman has recorded four confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country as of February 27. All of the cases appeared to be linked to Iran.
Pakistan - 2
Pakistan's Health Minister Zafar Mirza confirmed the first two cases of coronavirus in the country on February 26.
The Philippines - 3
Philippine health officials confirmed a third case of coronavirus on February 5. The country also had the first death from coronavirus outside China, which was announced on February 2.
Romania - 1
Romania reported its first case on February 16 in a man who was in contact with an Italian who visited the country earlier in the month.
Russia - 5
Russia reported two cases of coronavirus on January 31. Both patients - Chinese nationals - have recovered and were discharged from hospital.
In February, Russia repartiated and quarantined eight passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, three of whom have tested positive.
Singapore - 93
Singapore has a total of 93 cases as of February 27, including dozens of people who have recovered and been discharged from hospital.
South Korea - 1,766
South Korea reported 171 new coronavirus cases on February 27, raising the total number of infections to 1,766, including 13 deaths.
Spain - 16
Spain has reported 16 confirmed cases in Madrid, Barcelona, Castellon, Tenerife, La Gomera and Mallorca.
Nine of those infected were Italians or people who had recently visited Italy.
Sri Lanka - 1
Sri Lanka confirmed its first case of coronavirus on January 27.
The patient was identified as a 43-year-old Chinese woman from Hubei province who had arrived in Sri Lanka as a tourist. She was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital.
Sweden - 2
On January 31, Sweden's Public Health Agency said a woman had tested positive for coronavirus and was being kept in isolation at a hospital in southern Sweden.
The second case was registered on February 26.
Switzerland - 4
Switzerland reported its first case of coronavirus on February 25 when a 70-year-old man from southern canton of Ticino, which borders Italy, tested positive after a trip to Milan.
On February 27, the country raised the total number of confirmed cases to four.
Taiwan - 32
Taiwan has 32 confirmed cases as of February 27, including a 61-year-old man with underlying health issues who died from the virus.
Thailand - 41
Thailand reported one new confirmed coronavirus cases, bringing the total number to 41 as of February 28.
Two recent patients confirmed in the country, all of whom were Thai nationals, had returned from vacation in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido and came into contact with a third patient, an eight-year-old boy.
The UAE had a total of 13 confirmed cases as of February 23.
On February 1, the UAE became the first country in the Middle East to confirm cases of the coronavirus.
United Kingdom - 19
The United Kingdom said on February 28 that three additional patients tested positive for the new coronavirus, taking the total tally to 19.
The three included one case from Wales, its first.
United States - 60
The US had confirmed 60 cases of the virus as of February 27.
The cases include those evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.
Vietnam - 16
On February 13, the health ministry confirmed the nation's sixteenth case of coronavirus. The authorities have said at least 11 of the cases were in the northern province of Vinh Phuc.
The Son Loi commune in Vinh Phuc was placed under a 14-day quarantine by Vietnamese authorities on February
13.
This is a list of countries that had cases of ebola in 2014, when that was in the news every day for weeks
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (formerly ZAIRE)
GUINEA, LIBERIA, SIERRA LEONE (West African Epidemic)
ITALY
MALI
NIGERIA
SENEGAL
SPAIN
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATES
For the ebola crisis, there were a total of 7 cases outside of Africa.
In this corona virus crisis there are about 3000 known cases of the disease outside of China, the presumed country of origin.
Plus, ebola was spread by blood to blood contact, coronavirus is spread by coughing and sneezing, which is far more likely.
The "panic" is not about Trump.
The rwnj will keep dreaming that it is though.
Really? People LIKE being scared? Now i admit that throughout life i've been a "watch this shit" type of person from time to time but have i ever sought out being scared by some out of control, indiscriminate thing that could kill me? Not really if i had a choice..
Yep. Information is just coming too fast and furious for some to deal with properly.
You're kidding right? Do you really consider that something there is a question about?
Fear of the unknown is as old as humanity, and when there are no fears around, we create them. Stephen King is one of the best selling authors of all time, and horror movies regularly make tons of money. I am not a big fan of horror fiction, but many people are.
I guarantee you that most Americans are not really afraid of getting coronavirus, but they follow along with and to an an extent agree with the "panic" anyway. It is part of the culture.
Not kidding John and attempting to compare fiction and real life is a non sequitur.
Most people don't like being scared for their life, in real life
Having an Alien pop out of a chest in a movie is not the same thing.
Anyone who thinks that it is clearly hasn't ever been in a real life and death situation
How many Americans are in a life and death situation about coronavirus today? A microscopic number.
Yet everyone is talking about it.
My premise is correct, and not really debatable. Human beings gravitate psychologically toward things that are unknown. That is why horror stories are popular, that is why zombie movies are popular, that is why books and movies about epidemics have been popular, that is why stories about "Martians" and nuclear war have been popular over the years. Fear of the unknown is part of human nature.
When I wrote the article I was really just kind of stating the obvious.
Individual Americans are not personally afraid of getting coronavirus, any more than they are afraid of getting in a car accident today. It is the concept of the unknown and uncontrollable that scares them .
I disagree, absolutely, but that should be clear by now.
Ebola is spread by contact with Blood or Bodily Fluids, that's CONTACT not necessarily blood to blood or fluids to blood. The virus spreads through direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with Blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola virus disease (EVD).
Objects (such as clothes, bedding, needles, and medical equipment) contaminated with body fluids from a person who is sick with or has died from EVD.
Infected fruit bats or nonhuman primates (such as apes and monkeys).
Semen from a man who recovered from EVD (through oral, vaginal, or anal sex). The virus can remain in certain body fluids (including semen) of a patient who has recovered from EVD, even if they no longer have symptoms of severe illness. There is no evidence that Ebola can be spread through sex or other contact with vaginal fluids from a woman who has had Ebola.
But for a time, that wasn't known either. Same went for AIDS.
I was in health care when the AIDS epidemic hit. For a long time they were not sure how it was spread. If it was airborne, etc. It fundamentally changed how hospitals operated. Universal precautions came into being. The assumption that every patient coming into the hospital may be infected with something like AIDS. Appropriate PPE and procedures came into play for nearly every employee who came into contact with patients.
The biggest difference with this virus is the speed, ease and volume of media we are bombarded with daily. Too much information, too fast and people do tend to freak out.
Fear of the unknown and of course all the end of the world/zombie/etc. movies.
Agreed. It's like we want the zombie apocalypse to happen. There is more truth in Nix's speech than is comfortable.
I have a theory that we want an apocalypse simply because, on some level, we know the pursuits of our lives, the things we are brainwashed into desiring for a successful life, is mostly bullshit. We long for something to wipe all of that out so we can get down to what's really important. We may not know what that important thing is, but we sense that it's there.
I would rather a giant meteor hit us and take us all out at once instead of fighting off a zombie hoard. At least with a meteor it would be instant death instead of slowly being eaten alive
I don't think people are panicking, but the comparison to the flu isn't really an unknown. It's expected to kill that many people every year.
Coronavirus is an unknown. A professor from Harvard said it likely won't be contained and will ultimately effect 70% of the population. If 50% of the population gets infected at a 2% mortality rate, about 3.5 million Americans will die. That's worth paying attention to, even if its a remote chance.
I don't see 50% of the population being infected by this. People will stop going out in public long before that happens, or they will wear masks.
Do face masks really protect against coronavirus? - CBS News
Feb 05, 2020 · "It helps prevent the spread of infection ." Passengers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus as they arrive on a flight from Asia the …
Thank you, Sean, for some common sense.
Also, not all flues are created equal. The Spanish flu of 1918 killed about 75 million people worldwide, or 5% of the population and half a billion were infected. So a kill rate of 2% is substantial and could really impact patient care.
Being vigilant now is better than cleaning up the mess later. You know what they say about an ounce of prevention.
Coronavirus (Scary Name) = MUST WORRY....or Else....you're gonna die !
Every day Flu (Some People always die) = I get it at least once every 6 years or so.....what me worry ?
Like a "Commercial" - It's all in the Presentation and Name whether folks buy it or not.
I've died a little each day since the day the music died ...... so, bye bye miss American pie ......