quote:

Originally posted by 08 Cayenne:
So what's to stop Iran, China, NK,.... from loading a half dozen infected people on a plane and send them into the US and put them on subways, busses, malls... purposely?

Fear of the consequences if they get caught.

quote:

Originally posted by 08 Cayenne:
So what's to stop Iran, China, NK,.... from loading a half dozen infected people on a plane and send them into the US and put them on subways, busses, malls... purposely?

TSA?

Medical update - first clinical trial for treatment protocol has begun, sponsored by the NIH/NIAID. Volunteer from the Diamond Princess....

quote:

Originally posted by Doc H.:
Medical update - first clinical trial for treatment protocol has begun, sponsored by the NIH/NIAID. Volunteer from the Diamond Princess....

Any details on what the protocol entails?

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:

quote:

Originally posted by Doc H.:
Medical update - first clinical trial for treatment protocol has begun, sponsored by the NIH/NIAID. Volunteer from the Diamond Princess....

Any details on what the protocol entails?

Can't discuss specifics just yet, but should be forthcoming; several antiviral drugs are candidates. Basic NIH trial criteria are that the patient has evidence of pulmonary involvement and requires supplemental 02 or mechanical respiratory assist. This is light speed in the universe of clinical trials, with the ultimate focus on developing a vaccine....

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:

Any details on what the protocol entails?

Antiviral drugs that are very, very expensive and likely not covered at all by the typical patient's medical insurance.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sig2340:
Southern Italy has locked down due to the spread of the virus.

Shelves are getting bare in Lombardy region of Italy.





Is that the pasta aisle? Ironic

On the beeb:

quote:

Coronavirus: Iran's deputy health minister tests positive as outbreak worsens

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/w...middle-east-51628484

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:

Any details on what the protocol entails?

Antiviral drugs that are very, very expensive and likely not covered at all by the typical patient's medical insurance.

Trial plan is to ultimately enroll 400 patients at 50 sites worldwide. As a consideration of potential protocol drug candidates (there are others), actually, chloroquine costs about a nickel a dose outside the US, and about 5 bucks here, and has shown some effectiveness at inhibiting transmission, though not specifically an antiviral. Lopinavir costs about $20 wholesale on the global market, normal dosage per month. Remdesivir is a lot more expensive, right now, but these are already developed drugs, whose production can be ramped up (and is being), and considerably subsidized if necessary given the need. Cost, right now, is not the primary obstacle or consideration for stopping this disease, nor is insurance coverage if a national or worldwide emergency is declared. But thanks for pointing that out.

quote:

Originally posted by synthplayer:
Everybody loves a "sky is falling" topic to discuss, it seems.

With the exception of two or three members, most seem to be discussing updates on what this thing is doing and where it might lead based on what current information is available. Hardly "the sky is falling."

quote:

Originally posted by Doc H.:
[C]hloroquine costs about a nickel a dose outside the US, and about 5 bucks here[.]

That bit there, at least, is incredibly fucked up.

Officials say Tokyo 2020 Olympics cancellation is possible due to coronavirus
Liz Hund

The coronavirus outbreak continues to spread at a rapid rate with Northern Italy being the latest destination to take serious precautions, cancelling major events like the annual Carnevale celebration in Venice. Now officials from the International Olympic Committee are sharing that a 2020 Summer Olympics cancellation is possible given the current status of the outbreak.

IOC member Dick Pound (what an amazing name) says Tokyo Olympic organizers have until late May to see if the virus is under control. If not, “you’re probably looking at a cancellation.” https://t.co/e90SS6Px8B

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) February 25, 2020

Dick Pound (just magnificent) , a former Canadian swimming champion and longest-serving member of the IOC, told the Associated Press that a cancellation is more likely than postponing or moving the event, given the severity of the outbreak. The committee is planning to decide by late May, which is just two months before the July 24 Opening Ceremony.

Nearly 11,000 athletes are expected to participate in 2020, with an estimated 7.8 million tickets allocated for spectators. As of now, Pound is encouraging athletes to continue training.

The Olympic Games were cancelled in 1916, 1940 and 1944 due to World War I and World War II. No other Olympic Games have ever been completely cancelled, so a complete cancellation in 2020 would be a major development.

Link

Cases of coronavirus in Italy leap 45% in one day

https://www.washingtonexaminer...y-leap-45-in-one-day

talian officials reported that cases of coronavirus in the country surged 45% over the course of one day.

The number of confirmed cases of the illness in the country jumped from 222 to 322 on Monday. Officials said that 11 people have died from the illness so far, according to the Associated Press.

"Obviously, I can’t say I’m not worried because I don’t want anyone to think we’re underestimating this emergency," Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte told reporters before meeting with World Health Organization officials. "But we trust that, with the measures we’ve implemented, there will be a containing effect in the coming days."

Italy has struggled getting protective gear and coronavirus test kits to affected areas of the country. The government has closed schools, theaters, and other public gathering places in the sections hardest hit to limit the spread. Cases have continued to pop up despite the government’s efforts, and several of the cases in other countries may have originated from people traveling to Italy.

In the United States, development for a coronavirus vaccine is ahead of schedule, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases head Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday. Health officials will begin clinical test trials with the experimental vaccine in two to three months.

The positive news came the same day that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine expert Nancy Messonnier warned that the virus would eventually run loose through the U.S. and that the only unknown is when.

"Disruption to everyday life might be severe," Messonnier told reporters.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

Dick Pound

We've got a near idiot sports forecaster or reporter named Dick Skinner. Kind of scary if you ask me. At first I thought he was a Jewish circumcision expert in his spare time.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:
Cases of coronavirus in Italy leap 45% in one day

We often complain about mid school writing. The above quote is misleading at best. It should say "reported" cases. Those folks had the disease the day before, just wasn't diagnosed or reported.

quote:

Dick Pound

Will never not be funny.

There were 57K deaths from the flu last year

Link

quote:

Originally posted by Dzozer:
There were 57K deaths from the flu last year

Link

In the US. Around 290,000-650,000 globally according to WHO estimates.

So, does the CDC ever over-react, or is this a legit escalation? (Where did I leave that mask?)

Coronavirus disruption to ‘everyday’ life in US ‘may be severe,’ CDC official says
By Alexandria Hein | Fox News

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday warned that it expects the novel coronavirus to begin spreading in the U.S. at the community level, and that “disruption to everyday life may be severe.”

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the agency’s director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a press briefing on Tuesday that the time for Americans to begin preparing for a potential outbreak of the virus is now, although officials believe the immediate threat to the public remains low.

“As more and more countries experience community spread, successful containment at our borders becomes harder and harder,” Messonnier said. “Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in this country. It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of when this will happen, and how many people in this country will have severe illness.”

Rest of the story...

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
So, does the CDC ever over-react, or is this a legit escalation? (Where did I leave that mask?)

Coronavirus disruption to ‘everyday’ life in US ‘may be severe,’ CDC official says
By Alexandria Hein | Fox News

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday warned that it expects the novel coronavirus to begin spreading in the U.S. at the community level, and that “disruption to everyday life may be severe.”

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the agency’s director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a press briefing on Tuesday that the time for Americans to begin preparing for a potential outbreak of the virus is now, although officials believe the immediate threat to the public remains low.

“As more and more countries experience community spread, successful containment at our borders becomes harder and harder,” Messonnier said. “Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in this country. It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of when this will happen, and how many people in this country will have severe illness.”

Rest of the story...

Yes, and yes. The virus already meets the technical definition of a pandemic. Underestimating the effect is not something they want to do right now, and because of the (very apparent) ease of transmission, it's prudent to plow the road - witness the astonishment of the market lately. People - and the government - should be prepared for a significant percentage of the population getting this disease. This will - probably - impact healthcare availability significantly, probably mobility, almost certainly the supply chain, and likely normal operations for almost every daily activity. Just like the H1N1 2009 flu pandemic did (over 12,000 people died from this particular virus in the US). This was pretty apparent once the virus left China. What many - myself included - hope and believe is that the worst of this won't produce a horrific and unexpected fatality rate (though any is too much - but we don't get to choose). And to remember that "pandemic" doesn't mean "everybody dies," but that "a lot of people get sick." And they have, and will.