I haven't read this thread (nor the detailed ins and outs of the whole saga) - just the odd post - but some of the last few comments portray some of the misleading information out there in the media.
There is a difference between virulence, immunity and transmissability. As far as we know from the information out there I gather it is not as virulent as "bog standard flu" - ie most people who catch it will not be very ill and the DEATH RATE (% mortality of those with the disease) is quite low (lower than "bog standard flu"). However with "bog standard flu" many vulnerable people and groups are vaccinated (no idea of the figures) and many have some NATURAL IMMUNITY to the flu viruses so reducing their SUSCEPTIBILITY to the disease and ABSOLUTE numbers getting it are therefore (relatively) low even though for those that catch it, the death RATE (ie for flu) maybe higher.
As this is a NEW VIRUS then there is no vaccine as yet, and natural immunity is unknown (presumably?). Added to this it appears to be highly transmissible (infectious) and therefore the ABSOLUTE NUMBERS are likely to be VERY HIGH indeed (as we have already seen) and therefore the numbers of people needing hospital treatment as a consequence also very high and the ABSOLUTE NUMBERS of DEATHS also relatively high, irrespective of its virulence for the majority of people who get it.
I haven't seen this written anywhere so it's just from my head as it strikes me so shoot me down if I'm talking rubbish re the above. However it just seems obvious that this is why there is such concern about its spread. No conspiracy theory, no over-reaction but genuine attempts to curb its spread before it becomes a pandemic - which in this global society travelling all over the world, may be inevitable. Individuals who continue with their global holidays when they have been in a hotspot area (and who have no symptoms) are helping in the spread. We just do not have the hospital space to care for all the vulnerable people who will need hospital treatment should there be a pandemic.
Hurdity x
