New England Journal of Medicine: Coronavirus Could Be No Worse than Flu

[mystery-ak]

New England Journal of Medicine: Coronavirus Could Be No Worse than Flu

Joel B. Pollak28 Feb 20207917
2:25

An editorial published Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine speculated that the coronavirus currently causing panic in world markets could turn out no worse than “a severe seasonal influenza” in terms of mortality.

Citing an analysis of the available data from the outbreak in China, the authors note that there have been zero cases among children younger than 15; and that the fatality rate is 2% at most, and could be “considerably less than 1%.”

Those who have died have been elderly or were already suffering from another illness — as with ordinary flu. The underlying data suggest that the symptoms varies, and fewer than one in six of the cases reported were “severe.”

The authors note that coronavirus looks to be much less severe than other recent outbreaks of respiratory illnesses:

[T]he overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%) or a pandemic influenza (similar to those in 1957 and 1968) rather than a disease similar to SARS or MERS, which have had case fatality rates of 9 to 10% and 36%, respectively.

more
https://www.breitbart.com/health/2020/02/28/new-england-journal-of-medicine-coronavirus-could-be-no-worse-than-flu/

[catfish1957]

New England Journal of Medicine: Coronavirus Could Be No Worse than Flu

Joel B. Pollak28 Feb 20207917
2:25

An editorial published Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine speculated that the coronavirus currently causing panic in world markets could turn out no worse than “a severe seasonal influenza” in terms of mortality.

Citing an analysis of the available data from the outbreak in China, the authors note that there have been zero cases among children younger than 15; and that the fatality rate is 2% at most, and could be “considerably less than 1%.”

Those who have died have been elderly or were already suffering from another illness — as with ordinary flu. The underlying data suggest that the symptoms varies, and fewer than one in six of the cases reported were “severe.”

The authors note that coronavirus looks to be much less severe than other recent outbreaks of respiratory illnesses:

more
https://www.breitbart.com/health/2020/02/28/new-england-journal-of-medicine-coronavirus-could-be-no-worse-than-flu/

Which pretty much is what I have been saying on this forum for the last month.  A normal seasonal flu outbreak has roughly a 2% mortality rate.  No data I have seen (and we are now in cycle 3 of the outbreak) have shown anything significantly more. 

OTOH, I obvioulsy want to state we can't let our guard down in case this thing mutates into a more lethal strain.  Still, don't be suprised if this isn't the deal it is made out to be.

[Elderberry]

You are way off on a 2% mortality rate for "seasonal flu"

[T]he overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%)

[Applewood]

Where I live, the local media seems more interested in the number of flu deaths this year (so far, 12 locally).  The vast majority of the fatalities occurred in older and/or chronically ill individuals.

Just heard that there has been a fatality from the coronavirus in Washington state, but no word yet on the age or health of the victim.