[AlanHo]

The following article is doing the rounds on social media and is claimed to have been written by a scientist working at Pennington Biomedical in the USA.

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Feeling confused as to why Coronavirus is a bigger deal than Seasonal flu? Here it is in a nutshell. It has to do with RNA sequencing  i.e. genetics

Seasonal flu is an "all human virus". The DNA/RNA chains that make up the virus are recognized by the human immune system. This means that your body has some immunity to it before it comes around each year. You get immunity two ways...through exposure to a virus, or by getting a flu shot.

Novel viruses, come from animals. The World Health Organisation (WHO) tracks novel viruses in animals, (sometimes for years watching for mutations). Usually, these viruses only transfer from animal to animal (pigs in the case of H1N1 - birds in the case of the Spanish flu). But once one of these animal viruses mutates and starts to transfer from animals to humans - then it's a problem.
Why? Because we have no natural or acquired immunity, the RNA sequencing of the genes inside the virus isn't human, and the human immune system doesn't recognize it. So we can't easily fight it off.

Sometimes, the mutation only allows transfer from animal to human, for years it's only transmission was from an infected animal to a human - before it finally mutated so that it can now transfer human to human, once that happened we have a new contagion phase. Depending on the fashion of a new mutation, that’s what decides how contagious, or how deadly it's gonna be.

H1N1 was deadly...but it did not mutate in a way that was as deadly as the Spanish flu. It's RNA was slower to mutate and it attacked its host differently, too.

Fast forward

Now, here comes this Coronavirus... it existed in animals only, for nobody knows how long - but one day at an animal market in Wuhan China, in December 2019, it mutated and made the jump from animal to people.

At first, only animals could give it to a person, but here is the scary part, in just TWO WEEKS it mutated again and gained the ability to jump from human to human. Scientists call this quick ability, 'slippery''

This Coronavirus, not being in any form a 'human" virus (whereas we would all have some natural or acquired immunity) took off like a rocket. This was because Humans have no known immunity. Doctors have no known medicines for it.

It just so happens that this particular mutated animal virus, changed itself in such a way that it causes great damage to human lungs.

That's why Coronavirus is different from seasonal flu. or H1N1 or any other type of influenza.... this one is slippery AF and it's a lung eater. It’s already mutated AGAIN, so that we now have two strains to deal with, strain S and strain L which makes it twice as hard to develop a vaccine

We currently have no tools in our shed to fight it. History has shown that fast and immediate closings of public places has helped in the past pandemics. It is known that King Henry VIII stayed in his room and allowed no one near him, till the Black Plague passed. Just like us, he had no tools in his shed, except social isolation which saved him.

Let me end by saying that right now it's hitting older folks harder... but this genome is so slippery, if it mutates again (and it will) who is to say, what it will do next.

Be smart folks - acting like you're unafraid is so not sexy right now. Comply with government advice to flatten the curve. Stay home, take all advised precautions and share this with those that just are not catching on and carrying on as if it is an exaggerated problem. It isn’t – this one is deadly - especially to old folks whose immune system is no longer as strong as in the bloom of youth.

[asathorny]

I'll meet ya down at the crem Alan...  or not 

I went to the shop in Manchester this afti, I wore a full face mask, not the ones I used to wear in the operating theatre they are only to prevent us from breathing onto the patient, I also wore surgical gloves and still used sanitizer frequently which I was given at a hospital last week where I was attending as a qualified nurse.  I attracter a few stares.  But they'll all find out sooner or later 

Stay safe Alan 

[AlanHo]

Tis said in the Daily Mail (hence gospel) that proprietary mask filters are not fine enough to stop a virus and that masks are more appropriate for those coughing and sneezing to prevent their spittle from hitting others

Hence the advice to keep a distance of 2 meters from anyone.

Do you have special filters on your full face mask?

Face masks actually improve the appearance of some people in Birmingham.

[asathorny]

aye, they brag that it has two filters and there is a plastic do da on the front whatever, it's better than nowt I guess.  The two meter thing sounds daft to me.

I guess we'll see what we see in a week or four

[Shambles]

Here's a proper scientific report of this thing:

COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic has a natural origin -- ScienceDaily

[mickd]

A real mother f#cker of a virus .
30 times more deadly than usual flu.
Evolving- Mutating.

[Dazzler]

A real mother f#cker of a virus .
30 times more deadly than usual flu.
Evolving- Mutating.

30 times? Hope that's a typo Mick. I don't think it more than 3 times as deadly (not 30 times)

This is an interesting site.. the death rate in some countries is quite high, obviously depends on quality of care and average age of residents. Apparently for example, Italy has a high percentage of older residents.

Coronavirus Update (Live): 304,493 Cases and 13,000 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Outbreak - Worldometer

[mickd]

Don't wish to panic,
304,000 ÷100 = 3,040  (1%),
13,000 ÷ 3,040 = 4
So 4% of those who catch it   
Thus the precautions/ restrictions will continue to increase.

[Blazorax]

Reading all the news in Sydney about everyone hoarding toilet paper inspired me to write a poem.

Roses are red
Pickles are green
Covid might kill us
But at least our arses are clean.

IMHO - Surgical mask will not stop aerosol yet if it help protect from people sneezing or coughing droplets and myself touching face, then i'll settle for surgical mask since beggars cant be choosy,  the family made some fabric masks with multi layers so we can use and reuse after washing machined.  Any protection is better than none,   saving disposable masks for Dr and Nurses who will need it more in the coming days.

[LIVE] Coronavirus Pandemic: Real Time Counter, World Map, News - YouTube


Tough time ahead.  Stay safe ppl.

[Dazzler]

Cheers Thahn,

Nice to hear from you.. same to you and yours mate. 

[Doggie 1]

We're getting closer to lock down in Western Australia (as are other states & territories).
Midday Tuesday the borders will be closed.
As of midday tomorrow all pubs, restaurants and cafes are closed to in-service (take away only).
Unnecessary travel is not allowed.
W.A. is actually in a good geographical location to do OK if they do what needs doing because we are so isolated.
The concern is the vulnerable of course.
Sue's GP has told her that because of her chronic lung disease, she probably wouldn't fare well if she contracted COVID-19, so she's going to be pretty much isolated as much as possible by necessity.

[Dazzler]

We're getting closer to lock down in Western Australia (as are other states & territories).
Midday Tuesday the borders will be closed.
As of midday tomorrow all pubs, restaurants and cafes are closed to in-service (take away only).
Unnecessary travel is not allowed.
W.A. is actually in a good geographical location to do OK if they do what needs doing because we are so isolated.
The concern is the vulnerable of course.
Sue's GP has told her that because of her chronic lung disease, she probably wouldn't fare well if she contracted COVID-19, so she's going to be pretty much isolated as much as possible by necessity.

Oh yeah Wow! Sue would be really high risk. Everything crossed she stays safe. 

In theory Tassie should be the easiest State to isolate and control the outbreak but not sure they were quick enough to stop the cruise ships from disembarking.  Self isolation by returned travellers hasn't been well policed by all accounts either.

Not sure how the high percentage of Asians in WA will affect your numbers. I guess many are long term residents. I got to know quite a few while I was over there.. 

[mickd]

Confirmed cases:
1 in Tura Beach 
1 in Merimbula   
   

[Dazzler]

Confirmed cases:
1 in Tura Beach 
1 in Merimbula   
   

Let me guess, just back from a cruise or some other overseas jaunt?

[mickd]

Good guess dazz.
1 cruise,  1 interstate wedding with guests from all over Europe.
Would also appear that there are quite a few from ACT doing the 2 week isolation down here 
GOOD NEWS !
Rachel & Scott got back from Canada into Melbourne last weekend.
Had 2 spend 2 days in LA waiting for flight - didn't go anywhere.
Doing the 14 day isolation at home in Wagga.  Both of their works were looking at bring pc around so they can work from home.
So far all good 

[Shambles]

Lockdown announced by our very own BJ.

'Bout time too. Too many ignorant, selfish & slug-brained families have caused this new police-enforced stay-home policy.

[mickd]

Lockdown announced by our very own BJ.

'Bout time too. Too many ignorant, selfish & slug-brained families have caused this new police-enforced stay-home policy.

Coming to your town.

[mickd]

Tassie has stopped all travelers. 

[Dazzler]

Tassie has stopped all travelers. 

They just need to close the bloody schools now...

[CraigB]

Just had some disappointing news, someone has tested positive on the folks cruise ship so they are all confined to cabins now an full speed to ITALY CIVITAVECCHIA

No passengers have left the ship for three weeks so incubation periods could be longer than first thought

[Doggie 1]

Just had some disappointing news, someone has tested positive on the folks cruise ship so they are all confined to cabins now an full speed to ITALY CIVITAVECCHIA

No passengers have left the ship for three weeks so incubation periods could be longer than first thought

Hope they're ok Craig. Do you have good communications with them?

[CraigB]

Hope they're ok Craig. Do you have good communications with them?

They’re ok so far, it’s only one passenger at this stage.

I can call and email them.

[Doggie 1]

 

[Dazzler]

Just had some disappointing news, someone has tested positive on the folks cruise ship so they are all confined to cabins now an full speed to ITALY CIVITAVECCHIA

No passengers have left the ship for three weeks so incubation periods could be longer than first thought

 
 

[mickd]

[mickd]

3rd confirmed case here. Arrived by plane 12 days ago, those on plane have told to SI, trying to contact ALL persons No.3 has had contact with since arrival. Area has had an influx of Vic & ACT holiday makers    1 of the local beaches was packed today .
Going to be a surge in numbers here. 
Laying relatively low , going lower real soon.

[Dazzler]

Yep it's getting scary out there!

[CraigB]

This is the latest news about the ship my parents are on Costa Victoria More than 200 Australians stranded on cruise ship Costa Victoria with confirmed coronavirus case - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I did tell em not to go

[neptune]

cafes are closed to in-service (take away only).
Unnecessary travel is not allowed.

Anything to get out of buying the next coffee.....

[The Gonz]

cafes are closed to in-service (take away only).
Unnecessary travel is not allowed.

Anything to get out of buying the next coffee.....