Can someone help me understand why this is such a big deal? Because at the moment I really don’t.

[WellErrr]

Why is the world closing down?
Why is this worse than flu (which thousands of people have, and thousands die from each winter)?
Why the massive response?

I just do not get it at all. The only thing bringing the country to a halt seems to be the fact that everything’s shut and/or banned. Not the virus!?

I just cannot get worked up about it and I feel like I’m living in a parallel universe where everybody else knows something I don’t!?

[Ormally]

Tell you what, post again in 3 or 4 weeks and see if you are thinking any differently, or if you have developed a different view of your post here.

[IkeaSlave]

You can't argue with stupid, don't bother. All the info was online and on tv. Just mail, nod, agree.
You're right op, no idea what all the fuss is about

[Leflic]

I’m of the same mindset Op. Looking on google ( as someone helpfully pointed out) shows that massive pandemics like swine flu that killed a million, didn’t cause such a reaction. Certainly not the global melt down we’ve seen so far.
Italy has many studies as to why flu seems to kill an inordinate amount of its population compared to other countries.
So actually I think it’s a valid question.

[Mumski45]

Could you get worked up about it if it is your mother or father (or vulnerable child) who gets seriously ill in hospital and it's decided that they don't qualify to receive treatment on a ventilator because there aren't enough to go round. These decisions are being made in Italy right now and we are 2 weeks behind them.

[SwedishEdith]

UK
5/3/20 1
12/3/20 10

It does not take a genius to do this...

19/3/20 100
26/3/20 1000
2/4/20 10,000

The UK is at 104 already - 18/03

[Horehound]

Op you're wrong that Flu kills more. Are you going to acknowledge that you were wrong in your op?

[Zacharyezrarawlings]

are you for real?????
the mortality rate for flu in 0.1%
The current mortality rate for COVID 19 is roughly between 3-4% , possibly even higher in some countries

That's just for a start.....

[SinkGirl]

But several people have explained it you, and provided the information you want and you’ve just ignored them.

[WellErrr]

Looking on google ( as someone helpfully pointed out) shows that massive pandemics like swine flu that killed a million, didn’t cause such a reaction.

Thank you.
Yes, this is what I don’t understand. Why this massive reaction to Coronavirus, when we didn’t have it to swine flu? Or Ebola? Or sars? Or bird flu?

I had swine flu. It was shit. But there wasn’t this enormous and drastic global closure. Why now!? I don’t see what is different.

Thank you to those who have been polite and helpful.
And fuck you very much to the others 👍

[MoltonSilver]

It is worse than the flu because it spreads faster, has a higher death rate and there is no vaccine. Every winter medical staff, vulnerable patients and countless others get a flu vaccine. There is nothing to protect from this.

Hopsitals in Italy literally cant hold the number of sick people needing care.

www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/world/europe/12italy-coronavirus-health-care.html

I'm not saying that you are one of them but a lot of people seem to think that a flu is just a heavy cold. They are entirely different things. A flu is bad. This is worse.

[josette]

Sorry if this is basic and patronising, I’m used to explaining Biology to GCSE level:
Basically most flu viruses etc have been around a long while, or if they are ‘new’ ie slightly mutated viruses, most people at some point in their life will have a defence system that will recognise them as they have come across them before or at least similar ones, and so will produce antibodies and will destroy the virus quickly and are immune to some extent to further infections. Some people (very young, old or with suppressed immune systems) would struggle and so we get yearly flu deaths. This virus is brand new, our defence systems haven’t come across it before, no one has the antibodies yet, very very few people are immune.

[dementedpixie]

The others didnt transmit as easily

[BrexpatInSwitzerland]

I think @LaurieFairyCake already posted the perfect, accessible to anyone answer. Everyone who doesn't get it should be re-reading her post!

To elaborate a bit further:

1. Yes, the flu already kills myriad people every year. That's a bad thing!
   
2. But the flu is something we have vaccines against, know about and are reasonably good at managing.
   
3. The same things aren't true for COVID-19. We can't vaccinate and have only limited information on how to treat it effectively at present. It's also more deadly than the flu until we know how to prevent and treat it.
   
4. There may still be hope for this to be eradicated entirely. What we don't want is for it to become endemic, i.e. a regular thing (like the flu). This wouldn't stop anyone from dying of influenza but would add another virus to the mix that people have a base chance of catching - so more people would die overall per annum.
   
5. Right now, though, it's about dealing with the initial wave and riding out the period until an effective vaccine and/or treatment is identified. As long as this doesn't happen, we run the risk of over-stretching the resources of our health-care system. Which boils down to: resources aren't available to treat people who could otherwise be saved, i.e. people die needlessly.

[WellErrr]

Are you going to acknowledge that you were wrong in your op?

Well yes, if I’m wrong then I’m wrong. It’s not a competition though - you don’t get bonus points.

The trouble with social media is that I find it very hard to believe anything I read online any more. I will have a read through what’s been posted though.

[Crackerofdoom]

@Leflic

That is because there was a vaccine for swine flu.

In wealthy countries like ours, at risk people were vaccinated which meant the majority of deaths were far enough away for our society to ignore.

There is no vaccine. Every person n every country in the world is fair game.

[BeetrootBasil]

Op

1. the average length of time from symptoms to death is 17 days. Do the maths.

1. We have vastly underestimated the number of people infected. Put simply on the day we were reporting 20 cases, there were 100 cases. How do I know this? Because the death rate is 1 in 10. On the day of the first death count back 17 days and we were not reporting 10 cases, just a few. Each of these people infected 2-3, who infected 2-3. Exponentially this means when we reported 1,000 cases the actual number was 16,000. This would equate to approx. 150 dead by Friday. Which is sadly what seems to be reflected.

1. There are only 800 spare ICU beds. Keep going with the figures and in approx. 2-3 weeks ICU beds will be full. Not only this there is not enough oxygen tanks or ventilators or trained nhs staff. This means they would move towards catastrophe medicine where they choose who to treat like in a war zone based on who will be likely to survive.

1. Do you have any elderley relatives or friends with underlying health conditons who could die? 15% of people of all ages will get pneumonia which is very painful.

1. Your friend may not know that she or he has an undiagnosed heart condition.

I am not scare mongering, these are all facts. How you respond to them is by making informed and measured choices and keeping up to date and looking out for each other as we will all have to change our lives for a bit.

[WellErrr]

Thank you brexpat

[Tonz]

If u lack the intelligence to understand there's no point trying

[Sakura7]

How can people be this stupid, seriously?

OP do some reading and educate yourself, don't just ask mumsnet and then ignore everyone who takes the time to answer.

Anyone who is now wondering why this is a big deal is a monumental idiot.

[ElliePhillips]

Hi OP I have found this video to be a very nice clear explanation of what is happening globally and why we need to self isolate. The animations we very helpful in enabling me to visualise my personal potential role in spreading the virus and I've shared it with all of my family who found it very clarifying too:

[AlunWynsKnee]

You can pass this on before you have symptoms. The other things are infectious after you start showing symptoms. That's the big difference.

[Marieo]

Where to start. Okay, if left without any action it would absolutely rip through society, the reason numbers are relatively 'low' is because countries have enforced strict measures. If Wuhan hadn't done anything it would be killing ridiculous amounts of people globally. It is hard to tell precisely as the data we have isn't complete, not everyone who has it will have been tested, but medical experts agree that the mortality rate is higher than seasonal flu. Even if it wasn't, we have vaccination programmes and a low level immunity to seasonal flu, this is far more dangerous as we don't. The trouble is, you can choose to be blase and put yourself at risk, but you might also infect others. So stop being bloody selfish and assuming you know better than the entire planet, and follow guidance. PS, if flu is so bad, why on earth would we want to be dealing with this every winter in addition to the flu? Read some articles, watch the telly, get a grip.

[dreamingbohemian]

OP I don't think you're being unreasonable to ask. When you look at the enormous impact all the shutdowns are having millions will lose their jobs and possibly their homes, people are trapped in foreign countries unable to get home, there is going to be a pretty terrible global recession it does seem a bit odd considering the disease has not actually killed that many people in most places, outside of a few hot spots, relatively speaking.

There is also the problem that everyone is suddenly an epidemiologist and quoting 'facts' about a disease that are not truly established yet. We have no idea what the mortality rate is because we have no idea how many have contracted it. It's possible that 90% of those who get it are asymptomatic. So the actual mortality rate may be lower.

People are also ignoring important demographic and cultural differences and assuming that everywhere in Europe will be like Italy. But there are some reasons why they think Italy is so badly affected that will not apply everywhere. We don't know yet!

I am deeply concerned and I do agree that drastic action needs to be taken, but I think we need to be patient and learn a lot more before giving in to total hysteria.

[PerkingFaintly]

It’s a virus which has a lower prevalence rate and FAR lower mortality rate than seasonal flu

I too would like to know (perfectly seriously) where you got this idea?

[Rocketmam]

It's very disappointing that you have been given the attention that you have.

You are spouting ignorant and untrue 'facts' as your basis for this being no big deal. And seemingly ignoring those setting you straight politely.

Say that again in two weeks.