RidgeRunner

I think everyone should pay close attention to the Coronavirus outbreak. This virus could kill millions of people. I grew up with a philosophy that "a little paranoia is prudent." With this virus a person can be contagious and not show symptoms for several days. Stay focused on washing your hands, keeping your hands out of your face and mouth, and avoiding crowds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk5P...ature=emb_logo

Shakyshoot

I think it's highly unlikely to kill millions of people, or even many thousands. SARS and MERS both appear to be much more deadly than this. This new one is killing around 3% of those that get it, vs about 10% for SARS and 30% for MERS. No one really knows what it will do, and it does appear to reproduce more rapidly than other similar viruses. No cause for panic though. Keep in mind that garden variety influenza typically kills 250,000-500,000 people a year worldwide, and about 1% of those that get it, and no one panics about that. My guess is this will be self limiting like the others. I don't spend a lot of time in crowds as it is, and if anything I'll spend even less for a while.

Terry_P

My sister had a strain of the corona virus when she was sick last year. She was in the hospital for just over 3 weeks and close to death. She is just starting to sound normal when we talk on the phone. Trust me the BS you read on the web is just that when it comes to this virus. It may not be terribly serious for someone that 25 and in prime condition but when the hair gets gray this is a serious virus. The one in China is a mutation and they aren't sure how to deal with it. I certainly don't take the info coming out of China as gospel. The numbers are likely understated.

44s Rock

Corona Virus is a group of viruses including SARS ans MERS. Like the Flu each year we get different strains so predicting vaccines is always a crap shoot. I agree, China has not been honest up front, this could have been handled in a more timely manner!

RidgeRunner

by NewsInsider on January 25, 2020

A Virologist who helped fight SARS says Wuhan Coronavirus is 10 times worse than the epidemic 17 years ago. According to Dr. Guyan Yi, director of the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Hong Kong, the “golden period” to contain and eradicate the virus had already passed. “I have experienced so much and never felt scared. Most viruses are controllable, but this time I am scared,” said Dr. Guan Yi.

bearcatter

Points out the importance of controlling immigration. How many diseases are crossing borders world wide, spreading some unknown to the countries they go to? The U.S. is getting new bouts of diseases we haven't seen in decades. Europe, too. The Wall may well save thousands of people over time.

The ease of legal travel doen't help, either. Certainly how the U.S. corona cases got here. Just one infected person, on a plane, then walking through an airport and going to a restaurant, can infect dozens, who then spread it to more. It can snowball quickly before any show symptoms.

RidgeRunner

World map of confirmed cases:

https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/a...23467b48e9ecf6

Shakyshoot

Been doing some reading up about the Chinese wild animal markets, that probably started this whole mess. They say you can have 30 or 40 different species of live animals in cages stacked several layers deep, so the poop from the top is free to run down to the bottom. Can be bats, snakes, birds (some of which are endangered species) or pretty much any small mammal. What could go wrong? I really try to avoid buying ANY food product from China, but it can be pretty hard to do. Like everything else, it can say it's a U.S. product, but ingredients can be from China. Seems like pretty much any frozen fish around here is from China, except for salmon.

Sightngrl

I've stocked up on frosting in case we go into lock down

bearcatter

Oh, oh.....now we know it's gettin' serious........

Sightngrl

and moonshine, which I might share.....

bearcatter

It doesn't take much of that to have a year's supply....a little goes a long way! I can picture you and Sightnguy, lit to the max on moon, having a frosting ball fight.......

The moonshine capital of the world is a short drive from here; Franklin County, Virginia. I've tasted my share....

Sightngrl

mmm m m or depending......

Shakyshoot

I see a couple idiots went into a Walmart wearing masks and carrying signs saying "I have the coronavirus." If that wasn't bad enough, they sprayed Lysol all over the produce and other displays. Walmart had them arrested and said it cost them $7200 in produce, among other expenses to clean up the mess.

Shakyshoot

I haven't had frosting in about 7 months. As part of my weight loss regimen, a dessert these days is more like raisin bran or strawberries. I have a bunch of ice cream and pies in the freezer that's just sitting. On the plus side, I have lost about 24 lb.

bearcatter

They should do restitution, and a 14 day "quarantine" in county lockup.

44s Rock

Congrats on the weight loss!

RidgeRunner

A great dessert treat is to buy fresh blueberries, rinse well, drain and put into freezer bags squeezing out the excess air. Once frozen grab a couple of hand fulls for a cool treat. I do this with my morning breakfast. The blueberries freeze nicely. They are kinda hard at first so let the warm up in your mouth a bit.

Terry_P

I have Wymans frozen wild blueberries every morning on my oatmeal. I make a big pan of oatmeal with raisins, cranberries, walnuts, dried cherries, buckwheat groats and thick oats. The batch lasts about a week and I put some in a bowl and a little granola on top and nuke, add the blueberries and nuke a minute longer. Sticks with you pretty well..

bearcatter

My Occasionally Better Half runs frozen blueberries through the blender with a little milk to make Smoothies.