My Spider Sense (which is stronger than 100 acres of garlic) is tingling as the world deals with the Corona Virus. Here is a depiction of the culprit. Ugly bug, no?
There is no evidence that the Corona Virus is spread by Corona Beer, though considerable research continues on this logical connection. If I were not so spooked by Mexico these days, I would take a sabbatical to study it myself.
Why is your Spider Sense tingling, Big Red Car?
I don’t trust the Chinese about anything. I think the Chinese are under reporting the size of the pandemic because of national pride.
It is clear this is a huge problem as the virus is being systematically distributed to the world — now being found in the United States, England, France, Thailand, Australia, Germany, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Nepal, Finland, Cambodia, India, Singapore, and Russia.
Ahh, the wonders and benefits of air travel.
The World Health Organization has declared a “global emergency threat.”
Chinese President for Life +10 Years Xi Jinping has called it a “demon” virus, a “demon” epidemic. [Note: The simple fact that Xi Jinping commented on the Corona Virus tells you something.]
The numbers are moving quickly — quicker than it is possible to report them. There are an admitted more than 10,000 Chinese infected and more than 200 deaths.
My Spider Sense says those numbers could be 100,000 infected and 10,000 dead. China has locked down 60,000,000 persons in the Wuhan area. Seems a big move.
What’s the Big Deal, Big Red Car?
The Big Deal is caused by the lack of real information as to what the Corona Virus actually is.
Symptoms are said to be cough, fever, shortness of breath, but field reports say it may have very little symptoms and still be communicable.
Big Pharma says it can produce a vaccine, but it will take a year or more to deliver. They have already been able to grow the CV in the lab — huge milestone. Meanwhile, they are trying out some promising HIV drugs that they speculate may be effective.
So, right now if you get infected, you have to treat the symptoms and ride it out.
The other troubling development was the recognition that it could be transmitted from person-to-person. That is not completely novel, but taken with the fact that symptoms may not show up for 14 days, this is a real complication.
Perspective, Big Red Car?
Yes, dear reader, we need some perspective, don’t we? Let me share some info as it relates to influenza in the United States. I like to look at the flu numbers because it is almost completely avoidable by receiving a damn flu shot.
Hello, America? Flu shots?
These US numbers are only for the time period of 1 October 2019 to 20 January 2020. They are illuminating.
Total cases of flu: 19-26,000,000 <<< the US population is 330,000,000
Total flu medical visits: 9-12,000,000
Total flu hospitalizations: 180-310,000
Flu deaths: 10-25,000 <<< fewer than 8,000 US military KIAs total in Iraq and Afghanistan
This info is based on a mathematical model founded on actual collected data through the US Center for Disease Control’s US Influenza Surveillance System.
As you can see, the flu in the US this winter is a Big Deal.
Bottom line it, Big Red Car
So, here’s the bottom line.
The world is dealing with an unknown that is difficult to detect, has a 14-day incubation period, is transmittable person-to-person, may not show its symptoms clearly, and is becoming widely spread around the world. It appears to have a 2% mortality rate.
Countries are closing borders, evacuating nationals from China, cancelling flights to China, quarantining travelers for 14 days, and monitoring the situation with great concern whilst Big Pharma says it will take a year to develop a vaccine and that is a crap shoot.
BTW, for you capitalists: The Corona Virus has knocked the Dow down, but it will also drive jobs back to the United States. An ill wind blows good?
I will not be eating Chinese food this weekend though I cannot imagine I am at risk with sweet-sour soup and a couple of shrimp rolls?
My Spider Sense tells me this one is different. Different than SARS (10% mortality rate), MERS, the Swine Flu, Ebola (90% mortality rate). I think China is not leveling with us.
Be careful out there, amigos. Be very careful. Wash your hands, carry hand sanitizer, be very, very, very careful. Hedge your bets, PRAY.
But, hey, what the Hell do I really know anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car. Be well.