1. BARREL, I just read this article from New York Post and now I ask the same question. Did the Corona virus leak from a Chinese bioresearch/bioweapons lab?
2. Take a look at the following analysis. BARREL & PORK.
3. We report. You decide.
4. Don’t buy China’s story: The corona virus may have leaked from a lab
8. “At an emergency meeting in Beijing held last Friday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke about the need to contain the coronavirus and set up a system to prevent similar epidemics in the future.
9. “A national system to control biosecurity risks must be put in place “to protect the people’s health,” Xi said, because lab safety is a “national security” issue.
10. “Xi didn’t actually admit that the coronavirus now devastating large swaths of China had escaped from one of the country’s bioresearch labs. But the very next day, evidence emerged suggesting that this is exactly what happened, as the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology released a new directive titled: “Instructions on strengthening biosecurity management in microbiology labs that handle advanced viruses like the novel coronavirus.”
11. Read that again. It sure sounds like China has a problem keeping dangerous pathogens in test tubes where they belong, doesn’t it? And just how many “microbiology labs” are there in China that handle “advanced viruses like the novel coronavirus”?
12. It turns out that in all of China, there is only one. And this one is located in the Chinese city of Wuhan that just happens to be … the epicenter of the epidemic.
13. That’s right. China’s only Level 4 microbiology lab that is equipped to handle deadly coronaviruses, called the National Biosafety Laboratory, is part of the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
14. … What’s more, the People’s Liberation Army’s top expert in biological warfare, a Maj. Gen. Chen Wei, was dispatched to Wuhan at the end of January to help with the effort to contain the outbreak.
15. According to the PLA Daily, Chen has been researching corona viruses since the SARS outbreak of 2003, as well as Ebola and anthrax. This would not be her first trip to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, either, since it is one of only two bioweapons research labs in all of China.
16. Does that suggest to you that the novel coronavirus, now known as SARS-CoV-2, may have escaped from that very lab, and that Chen’s job is to try to put the genie back in the bottle, as it were? It does to me.
17. Add to this China’s history of similar incidents. Even the deadly SARS virus has escaped — twice — from the Beijing lab where it was (and probably is) being used in experiments. Both “man-made” epidemics were quickly contained, but neither would have happened at all if proper safety precautions had been taken.
18. And then there is this little-known fact: Some Chinese researchers are in the habit of selling their laboratory animals to street vendors after they have finished experimenting on them.
19. You heard me right.
20. Instead of properly disposing of infected animals by cremation, as the law requires, they sell them on the side to make a little extra cash. Or, in some cases, a lot of extra cash. One Beijing researcher, now in jail, made a million dollars selling his monkeys and rats on the live animal market, where they eventually wound up in someone’s stomach.
21. Enlarge ImageMembers of a police sanitation team spray disinfectant as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus.AFP via Getty Images
22. Also fueling suspicions about SARS-CoV-2’s origins is the series of increasingly lame excuses offered by the Chinese authorities as people began to sicken and die.
23. They first blamed a seafood market not far from the Institute of Virology, even though the first documented cases of Covid-19 (the illness caused by SARS-CoV-2) involved people who had never set foot there.
24. Then they pointed to snakes, bats and even a cute little scaly anteater called a pangolin as the source of the virus.
25. I don’t buy any of this. It turns out that snakes don’t carry coronaviruses and that bats aren’t sold at a seafood market. Neither, for that matter, are pangolins, an endangered species valued for their scales as much as for their meat.
26. The evidence points to SARS-CoV-2 research being carried out at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The virus may have been carried out of the lab by an infected worker or crossed over into humans when they unknowingly dined on a lab animal. Whatever the vector, Beijing authorities are now clearly scrambling to correct the serious problems with the way their labs handle deadly pathogens.
27. [It looks like] China has unleashed a plague on its own people. It’s too early to say how many in China and other countries will ultimately die for the failures of their country’s state-run microbiology labs, but the human cost will be high.
BARREL, the public and the media are rightly concerned about Corona Virus. Here are details regarding INFLUENZA AND THE CORONA VIRUS that may alleviate some of the worry and put the matter in a clearer perspective.
Bottom line, perhaps POTUS TRUMP ought to focus more national resources on combatting INFLUENZA (FLU) while at the same time taking all precautions regarding CORONA VIRUS.
1. Influenza (flu) Numbers?
2. 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 severe illnesses each year world-wide.
3. 290,000 to 650,000 deaths each year world-wide.
4. 20% of unvaccinated children catch the virus each year.
5. 10% of unvaccinated adults are infected each year.
13. Influenza activity in the United States during the 2018–2019 season began to increase in November and remained at high levels for several weeks during January–February5.
14. Influenza A viruses were the predominant circulating viruses last year.
15. While influenza A(H1N1pdm09) viruses predominated from October 2018 – mid February 2019, influenza A(H3N2) viruses were more commonly reported starting in late February 2019.
16. Influenza B viruses were not commonly reported among circulating viruses during the 2018–2019 season.
17. The season had moderate severity based on levels of outpatient influenza-like illness, hospitalizations rates, and proportions of pneumonia and influenza-associated deaths.
18. CDC estimates that the burden of illness during the 2018–2019 season included an estimated:
19. 35.5 million people getting sick with influenza,
20. 16.5 million people going to a health care provider for their illness,
21. 490,600 hospitalizations, and
22. 34,200 deaths from influenza (Table 1). [annual]
23. The number of influenza-associated illnesses that occurred last season was similar to the estimated number of influenza-associated illnesses during the 2012–2013 influenza season when an estimated:
24. 34 million people had symptomatic influenza illness6.
25. Peak activity during the 2018–2019 influenza season was classified as having moderate severity across ages in the population.
26. Compared with the 2017–2018 season , which was classified as high severity, the overall rates and burden of influenza were much lower during the 2018–2019 season (Table 2).
27. Among children, however, rates of influenza during the 2018–2019 season were similar to the 2017–2018 season.
28. In addition, the 2018–2019 season had two waves of activity, including a wave predominated by influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses and another wave of similar magnitude attributable to influenza A(H3N2) viruses5.
29. The dual waves resulted in a protracted season during 2018–2019 that was less severe when compared with peak activity in 2017–2018, but resulted in a similar burden of illness in children by the end of the season.
30. During the 2018–2019 season, 136 deaths in children with laboratory–confirmed influenza virus infection were reported in the United States8.
31. However, influenza-associated pediatric deaths are likely under-reported as not all children whose death was related to an influenza virus infection may have been tested for influenza9,10.
32. By combining data on hospitalization rates, influenza testing practices, and the frequency of death in and out of the hospital from death certificates, we estimate that there were approximately 480 deaths associated with influenza in children during 2018–2019.
33. Our estimates of hospitalizations and mortality associated with the 2018–2019 influenza season continue to demonstrate how serious influenza virus infection can be.
34. We estimate, overall, there were:
35. 490,600 hospitalizations and
36. 34,200 deaths during the 2018–2019 season.
37. More than:
38. 46,000 hospitalizations occurred in children (aged <18 years); however,
39. 57% of hospitalizations occurred in older adults aged ≥65 years.
40. Older adults also accounted for:
41. 75% of influenza-associated deaths,
42. highlighting that older adults are particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes resulting from an influenza virus infection.
43. An estimated:
44. 8,100 deaths occurred among working age adults (aged 18–64 years), an age group that often has low influenza vaccination uptake11.
45. Conclusion
46. CDC estimates that influenza was associated with
47. more than:
48. 35.5 million illnesses,
49. more than
50. 16.5 million medical visits,
51. 490,600 hospitalizations, and
52. 34,200 deaths
53. during the 2018–2019 influenza season.
54. This burden was similar to estimated burden during the 2012–2013 influenza season1.
57. This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance.
58. Updated February 23, 2020
59. Background
60. CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which has now been detected in 32 locations internationally, including cases in the United States.
61. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).
63. On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19.
64. Source and Spread of the Virus
65. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats.
66. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and now with this new virus (named SARS-CoV-2).
67. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.
68. All three of these viruses have their origins in bats.
69. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.
70. Early on, many of the patients in the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread.
71. Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread.
72. Person-to-person spread has been reported outside China, including in the United States and other locations.
73. Chinese officials report that sustained person-to-person spread in the community is occurring in China.
93. Person-to-person spread of COVID-19 also has been seen among close contacts of returned travelers from Wuhan, but at this time, this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States.
94. Illness Severity
95. Both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV have been known to cause severe illness in people.
96. The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully understood.
97. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild to severe, including illness resulting in death.
99. There are ongoing investigations to learn more.
100. This is a rapidly evolving situation
101. and information will be updated as it becomes available.
102. Risk Assessment
103. Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern.
104. The risk from these outbreaks depends on characteristics of the virus, including how well it spreads between people, the severity of resulting illness, and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications).
105. The fact that this disease has caused illness, including illness resulting in death, and sustained person-to-person spread is concerning.
106. These factors meet two of the criteria of a pandemic.
107. As community spread is detected in more and more countries, the world moves closer toward meeting the third criteria, worldwide spread of the new virus.
108. The potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 is high, both globally and to the United States.
109. But individual risk is dependent on exposure.
110. For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low.
111. Under current circumstances, certain people will have an increased risk of infection, for example healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 and other close contacts of persons with COVID-19.
126. Global efforts at this time are focused concurrently on containing spread of this virus and mitigating the impact of this virus.
127. The federal government is working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat.
128. The public health response is multi-layered, with the goal of detecting and minimizing introductions of this virus in the United States so as to reduce the spread and the impact of this virus.
129. CDC is operationalizing all of its pandemic preparedness and response plans, working on multiple fronts to meet these goals, including specific measures to prepare communities to respond local transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19.
130. There is an abundance of pandemic guidance developed in anticipation of an influenza pandemic that is being repurposed and adapted for a COVID-19 pandemic.
131. Highlights of CDC’s Response
132. CDC established a COVID-19 Incident Management System on January 7, 2020.
133. On January 21, 2020, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to better provide ongoing support to the COVID-19 response.
134. The U.S. government has taken unprecedented steps with respect to travel in response to the growing public health threat posed by this new coronavirus:
135. Effective February 2, 2020, at 5pm, the U.S. government suspended entry of foreign nationals who have been in China within the past 14 days.
136. U.S. citizens, residents, and their immediate family members who have been in Hubei province and other parts of mainland China are allowed to enter the United States, but they are subject to health monitoring and possible quarantine for up to 14 days.
137. CDC has issued the following travel guidance related to COVID-19:
144. An interim Health Alert Network (HAN) Update to inform state and local health departments and healthcare professionals about this outbreak on February 1, 2020.
147. CDC has deployed multidisciplinary teams to support state health departments with clinical management, contact tracing, and communications.
148. CDC has worked with the Department of State, supporting the safe return of Americans who have been stranded as a result of the ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and related travel restrictions.
149. CDC has worked to assess the health of passengers as they return to the United States and provided continued daily monitoring of people who are quarantined.
150. The article contains a picture of CDC’s laboratory test kit for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
151. CDC is shipping the test kits to laboratories CDC has designated as qualified, including U.S. state and local public health laboratories, Department of Defense (DOD) laboratories and select international laboratories.
152. The test kits are bolstering global laboratory capacity for detecting SARS-CoV-2.
153. CDC laboratories have supported the COVID-19 response, including:
154. CDC has developed a real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) test that can diagnose COVID-19 in respiratory samples from clinical specimens.
160. While the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat:
161. It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.
162. If you are a healthcare provider, be on the look-out for people who recently traveled from China and have fever and respiratory symptoms.
163. If you are a healthcare provider caring for a COVID-19 patient or a public health responder, please take care of yourself and follow recommended infection control procedures.
164. If you have been in China or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you will face some limitations on your movement and activity.
165. Please follow instructions during this time.
166. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow spread of this virus.
167. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, contact your healthcare provider, and tell them about your symptoms and your travel or exposure to a COVID-19 patient.
The novel coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting 37 countries and territories around the world and 1 international conveyance (the “Diamond Princess” cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan).
The bulk of China’s new cases and deaths are reported after 22:00 GMT (5:00 PM ET) for Hubei (lately with delays of up to 2 hours), and after 00:00 GMT (7:00 PM ET) for the rest of China (lately with delays of up to 9 hours).
Search:
Country,Other
Total Cases
NewCases
TotalDeaths
NewDeaths
TotalRecovered
Serious,Critical
China
77,345
+409
2,593
+151
25,036
11,477
S. Korea
833
+231
8
+2
22
6
Diamond Princess
691
3
2
36
Italy
229
+72
7
+4
1
23
Japan
159
+13
1
23
7
Singapore
90
+1
49
7
Hong Kong
81
+7
2
12
6
Iran
61
+18
12
+4
3
USA
53
+18
5
Thailand
35
15
2
Taiwan
30
+2
1
2
1
Australia
22
11
Malaysia
22
17
Germany
16
14
Vietnam
16
15
U.K.
13
8
U.A.E.
13
3
2
France
12
1
11
Canada
11
+1
3
Macao
10
5
Kuwait
5
+5
Philippines
3
1
2
India
3
3
Bahrain
2
+2
Israel
2
Oman
2
+2
Russia
2
2
Spain
2
2
Afghanistan
1
+1
Belgium
1
1
Cambodia
1
1
Egypt
1
1
Finland
1
1
Iraq
1
Lebanon
1
Nepal
1
1
Sri Lanka
1
1
Sweden
1
Highlighted in green
= all cases have recovered from the infection.
Highlighted in grey
= all cases have had an outcome (there are no active cases).
BARREL, the public and the media are rightly concerned about Corona Virus.
Above are details regarding INFLUENZA AND THE CORONAVIRUS that may alleviate some of the worry and put the matter in a clearer perspective.
Bottom line, POTUS TRUMP perhaps ought to focus more resources on combatting INFLUENZA (FLU) while at the same time taking all precautions regarding the CORONAVIRUS.
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