The first 100 days after the first case in various epidemics since 2000

Very interesting graph.

 

I think that's because cholera doesn't affect us!

 

I probably should have clarified that it was a video graph!

 

That puts it into perspective for those ‘it’s just flu’ types.

 

Nobody has said it's just flu but in what way does that graph put anything into perspective? Flu isn't included in the graph

 

I'm sick of seeing / hearing comparisons made witn SARS.

 

The only take away from that graph should be 'how many warnings did the UK need to put an epidemic plan in place?'

 

Doesn't it put into perspective that since 2000 Covid far outnumbers any epidemic globally in terms of number of deaths? Or am I missing something... And in terms of flu, it puts into perspective that the numer of covid deaths far outweighs the number of deaths from regular flu (even if regular flu isnt on the graph we know the number of annual deaths from flu are significantly lower). I dont know about you but I have heard people refer to covid as 'just the flu' so I dont think @Donny-Red is wrong in this?

 

That's not the case though. Flu isn't on there for the opposite reason, because it's so common. Honestly if flu was there you would be amazed. That isn't comparing the seriousness of the two or saying one should be treated like the other but genuinely of flu deaths were on that graph you would be shocked.

 

Just checked the figures and here's a quick graph showing deaths between the first recorded cased of covid-19 and day 82 (day 82 chosen as that's the day I have figures up to for flu)

Note the influenza deaths are for USA only. The figures for covid-19 and cholera are worldwide.



Source: US centre for disease control and prevention.

As I said this isn't to play down covid-19, it's to point out how many people our poor attitude towards hygiene and our apathy towards contagious diseases and viruses kills on a regular basis.

 

Wow! I thought I'd read that covid deaths outstrip regular flu but I stand corrected! That is genuinely shocking to me. Does make you consider what we take for granted and how we are blinkered by what has become 'the norm' I.e. influenza happens, get a seasonal jab if you want but dont sweat it etc. We obviously need to do more. I don't take the flu for granted but I used to have asthma pretty bad and I have always declined the jab. I may reconsider next time

 

The death rate at its peak will far outstrip regular flu as you have to remember that covid-19 is in its infancy while flu is established but I think it still shows just how many people die that frankly we don't care about. We just accept those deaths as 'one of those things'. I have said that flu and covid-19 are very similar in a lot of ways and I stand by that because what I mean is the way they are transmitted. The rate of transmission, incubation period and length of time they can live on surfaces but as far as the general public are concerned it's pretty much the same steps that we should take to protect people from both.

One of two things will come of this. Either we will carry on as normal, covid-19 will evolve and be as hard to completely vaccinate against as flu and all its strains are and we will see an astronomical number of deaths each and every year from the two combined. Up to 650,000 flu deaths a year and the covid-19 deaths on top of that.
Or we will all realise that the way we live HAS to change. No going to work with the sniffles and soldiering on through possible flu symptoms. No 'i feel like crap but I'm still going to tesco'. No coughing and spluttering in the open air. And actually learning to wash our hands regularly and properly. Maybe then the deaths not only from this but from flu as well will be significantly reduced. Its my firm belief that flu is such a big killer because we are apathetic towards if we can change that attitude we can save lives, not just this year but every year.

 

In fairness it is related to SARS

 

The mere mention of the word "flu" on here seems to be met with a certain disdain!

Flu is/can be very serious and is a major contributor to a large percentage of deaths worldwide every year.

2020 deaths to date from flu stands at 133,000 vs. 95,000 for COVID-19 worldwide. Clearly I'm not saying this to downplay anything, the severity of spread of CV is obviously a major concern and the reason why we're in lockdown.

However check out the 'Health' section of the below link - scary stuff indeed!

https://www.worldometers.info

 

Nothing is certain but my gut reaction is within a few years at best people's habits will revert to normal. That's just they way people at large are.

 

At least it's not spanish flu...

 

I thought we had targeted vaccination purely because we do care?

maybe I’ve misunderstood, but I think that an annual huge publicity and immunisation plan was a sign of ‘doing something’.

I appreciate we could do more re hygiene, but I believe it’s inaccurate to suggest we do nothing.

 

How many people would be dead with Covid if 97% of the world wasn’t in lockdown?

I can guarantee it would piss all over flu deaths.

I love how you constantly state you know it’s not like flu but constantly talk about flu and do comparisons.

How many hospitals are overwhelmed by flu each year? How many hospitals have to quadruple their ICU beds because of Flu? How many Doctors die each year from catching flu from patients? How many times does flu kill 20 bus drivers in 2 months?

FFS This pandemic isn’t comparable to flu and if we weren’t in lockdown across the globe, the deaths would be 100 fold more than they are now.

 

I didn't say we do nothing