Wuhan virus (coronavirus) arrives in the USA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Doesn’t Wuhan have some kind of experimental laboratory where this may have started?

There is a bioweapons lab in Wuhan. Yes, there are conspiracy theories out there that it and not the seafood market was the source. The theory is an accidental leak from the laboratory through an employee or similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Doesn’t Wuhan have some kind of experimental laboratory where this may have started?

Maybe. But it doesn't matter whether the virus came from the food market or a lab. There's no vaccine or treatment. It's a viral pneumonia. A bad one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If anything, the complete lack of any sensible commentary on this thread comforts me that the coronavirus is really NBD.

They enjoy generated hysteria and the panic feels like a cardio workout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Something else to think about — the longest incubation period I’ve heard is 14 days with the Chinese saying it can be transmitted without symptoms and CDC saying no evidence that it can be transmitted by the asymptomatic. In either case the first case in Washington state flew in 1/15 — on a flight with hundreds of others, walked thru SeaTac and took some sort of transport home (didn’t drive himself). So if we get past the middle of this wk which will be 14 days and there aren’t a bunch of confirmed cases in/around Washington state from ppl on that flight, at the airport etc — then that’ll be a good data point re the fact that it isn’t easily spread just by being on the same flight w someone who develops it later. Again fingers crossed.

But if anyone at one of those airports or on a bus that had a patient on it came down with a fever, cough, etc say on 1/22... they probably wouldn't think they had a novel corona virus so why would they go to get tested? If anything they'd be tested for flu A or flu B and it would come back negative, right?

The only people being considered for testing for novel coronavirus at the time were people flying in from the Wuhan or nearby areas. Not people in the general public.

This wasn't really in the news the way it is now.

But if they caught something so mild that they didn't go to the dr. or they went to the dr. before health advisories were out but weren't tested and presuambly have since recovered (bc if they weren't recovering, they'd be tested now) -- what exactly is the problem? I mean if we don't see a huge surge in cases in the Wash state area -- that means people on the same flight at him, at the same airport gate etc. didn't catch anything or caught something so mild 2 wks ago that despite going to work, the grocery store etc. -- they haven't spread it. Are people LOOKING for reasons for worry and paranoia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Doesn’t Wuhan have some kind of experimental laboratory where this may have started?

No reputable source at all suggests this. There is no evidence of this. Please, this virus is scaring people enough without making up or propagating fake news about some sci-fi virus release. Yes, Wuhan has a virus lab. So does the NIH in Bethesda and CDC in Atlanta and countless universities around the country. What we should be more worried about in terms of new viruses is the way population growth and the desire for more energy and resources has pushed people into previously wild areas and into contact with wild animals in new ways. That gives opportunity for viruses to jump from other species to ours. Of course people have been in contact with wild animals for all of human history, but it used to be that a virus would jump, the person would get sick, but would never be able to infect many others because they lived in a rural village. No opportunity for massive spread. Now the city and the wild lands are on top of each other and there are consequences. This is how Ebola now works - Ebola has probably been around for eons, but now that roads connect previously unimaginably remote forest lands in places like DRC it can and does travel and become epidemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Doesn’t Wuhan have some kind of experimental laboratory where this may have started?

No reputable source at all suggests this. There is no evidence of this. Please, this virus is scaring people enough without making up or propagating fake news about some sci-fi virus release. Yes, Wuhan has a virus lab. So does the NIH in Bethesda and CDC in Atlanta and countless universities around the country. What we should be more worried about in terms of new viruses is the way population growth and the desire for more energy and resources has pushed people into previously wild areas and into contact with wild animals in new ways. That gives opportunity for viruses to jump from other species to ours. Of course people have been in contact with wild animals for all of human history, but it used to be that a virus would jump, the person would get sick, but would never be able to infect many others because they lived in a rural village. No opportunity for massive spread. Now the city and the wild lands are on top of each other and there are consequences. This is how Ebola now works - Ebola has probably been around for eons, but now that roads connect previously unimaginably remote forest lands in places like DRC it can and does travel and become epidemic.

+1

In addition, as mad killer viruses go this isn't really what you would engineer. You'd want something that was far more lethal and far quicker, but with less spread. You want something to take out a city quickly (quick symptoms, quick death), not be so under the radar that it would take out everyone (i.e. silent contagion).

Besides that, there are plenty of really bad diseases in the laboratories that would be far and away more dangerous and easier to spread.

[Anonymous]

Why would China allow for any evidence of the truth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Doesn’t Wuhan have some kind of experimental laboratory where this may have started?

There is a bioweapons lab in Wuhan. Yes, there are conspiracy theories out there that it and not the seafood market was the source. The theory is an accidental leak from the laboratory through an employee or similar.

It's not a "bioweapons lab". It's has a BSL-4 ( Biosafety level 4 ) laboratory where they can conduct research on various viruses like SARS or Ebola. I think there are a couple of BSL-4 labs in Frederick MD and one in Richmond in case you are wondering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If anything, the complete lack of any sensible commentary on this thread comforts me that the coronavirus is really NBD.

We won't know for about 10 more days or so. The first non China human to human transmissions are now just being diagnosed (your bus guide in Japan, for example.)

Since I live in the DC area with a major airport, tourism, and large international population who travels alot, I'm staying cautious and not going anywhere I don't have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m optimistic it hasn’t taken off in the states, Russia and India. Maybe we’ll dodge the bullet.

Confirmed case in Nepal with others suspected. India will soon follow. When it hits India, Bangladesh etc it will be bad news due to population density. Also, less rule following than among Chinese population.

[Anonymous]

This thread just appears to be people looking for reasons to panic . . . . Unless you are going to Asia and/or even flying a long domestic flight to an international city like LA, move on with your 9-5 and your carpools to soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would China allow for any evidence of the truth?

Because they need a cure.

Listen, I've lived in China. I deal with China for work on a daily basis. I don't believe the number of patients / deaths / cites afffected, whatever. It is probably not accurate, either on purpose or just in the 'heat of the moment' kind of counting things.

But the important stuff is public and out there, and truthful, and being verified.

Take a look here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/2019-ncov-seqs/?utm_campaign=wuhan_nCoV&utm_source=insights&utm_medium=referral

That's the genetic signatures of the viruses, directly submitted to the Genbank by the Chinese health authorities. As more and more get sequenced they are being shared and that's allowing scientists to map this as we speak and work toward solutions.

So while some skepticism and critical thinking is always needed when dealing with authoritarian regimes, knee-jerk cynicism is a bit closed-minded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread just appears to be people looking for reasons to panic . . . . Unless you are going to Asia and/or even flying a long domestic flight to an international city like LA, move on with your 9-5 and your carpools to soccer.

And tell the soccer moms in the masks that you respect their choice. It’s not easy to lose control in a bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread just appears to be people looking for reasons to panic . . . . Unless you are going to Asia and/or even flying a long domestic flight to an international city like LA, move on with your 9-5 and your carpools to soccer.

Everyone entire to their own thoughts and where they want to spend time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread just appears to be people looking for reasons to panic . . . . Unless you are going to Asia and/or even flying a long domestic flight to an international city like LA, move on with your 9-5 and your carpools to soccer.

There are confirmed cases in California and other states. It is not contained only to China.

That said, it's also a major current event. You don't have to discuss it if you don't want to, but why is this different from any other thread on this site? Or anywhere on the internet?

You're too cool for the coronavirus. Fine. The rest of us are interested. (Some of us have family in/near Wuhan, but I assume that most posters on this thread don't.)