During the 2017-2018 flu season, CDC figures put U.S. influenza deaths at roughly 80,000. Meanwhile, global estimates indicated anywhere between 290,000 - 650,000 influenza-associated deaths from respiratory causes alone.
And in terms of deaths from influenza-induced lower respiratory tract infections, a 2019 study estimated 99,000 - 200,000 deaths for the 2017-2018 flu season.
The following year, CDC figures estimated 35.5 million Americans fell ill with influenza, resulting in 490,600 hospitalizations and 34,200 deaths.
Since this past October, the regular influenza has infected as many as 49 million and killed between 20,000-52,000 in the U.S. alone. By comparison on a global scale, the Coronavirus outbreak has infected over 90,000 people as of early March, resulting in 3,462 deaths worldwide
While the fatality rate of Coronavirus now appears to be slightly higher than that of typical influenza (estimates range from 1.4% to the WHOโs 3.4%), the toll of the common flu is staggeringly higher than that of COVID-19
Concernโas with any infectious disease is warranted, yes
Concernโas with any infectious disease is warranted, yes
But knowing the numbers helps limit our fear of the unknown, and battle our amygdalas against irrationality.
We know the disease is mild in most people who get it. At least 80% or more, wonโt have an illness bad enough to warrant hospitalization. Weโll have a better idea once testing is more broadly applied, but it would not surpriseif the widely cited case fatality rate of 1-2%
Children seem particularly protected from severe coronavirus disease. Many of the sniffles and colds kids experience are due to existing milder coronavirus strains, possibly giving them partial immunity to this more serious new threat.
There has been extraordinary global cooperation from doctors, scientists and public health officials. In most cases, this has included remarkable sharing of clinical data and research. It is wonderful to see the community responding in such a unified voice against #CoronaVirus
Summary from Dr. Paul Sax, Harvard Medical School ( Infectious diseases specialist ) and @PeterDiamandis about #COVD19 #CoronaVirus
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