Jan 27, 2020 13:00:00

Why is influenza more dangerous than the new coronavirus?

By

geralt

As the new coronavirus spreads around the world, on January 24, 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that 'the direct risk of new coronavirus in Japan is low.' Healthcare professionals are reminding them to look again at the dangers of the flu as the dangers of the new coronavirus are shouted in the press.

Second Travel-related Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Detected in United States | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/p0124-second-travel-coronavirus.html

The Flu Is a Way Bigger Threat to Most People in The US Than Coronavirus.Here's Why
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-coronavirus-might-be-in-the-us-but-the-flu-is-a-way-bigger-threat-for-people

On January 26, 2020, Chinese authorities announced that a new 769 new cases of pneumonia due to the new coronavirus had killed 24 people. As a result, the cumulative number of new coronavirus patients in China has reached 2,744, and the cumulative number of deaths has reached 80. However, the median age of death from the new coronavirus as of January 23 was 75. Many of these deaths are also known to have health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease.

Both influenza and new coronaviruses have in common that they are transmitted from person to person through coughing and other contacts. However, influenza is a virus that spreads worldwide every year, compared to the new coronavirus, which is reported in Wuhan, China in most cases. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reports (PDF file) that the estimated number of patients in the '2018/19 season' has reached 12.1 million in total. Worldwide, seasonal flu affects 3 to 5 million people each year, causing up to 650,000 deaths.

Influenza (Seasonal)
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also tentatively estimated the new coronavirus as '1.4 to 2.5' in terms of the number of basic reproductions , an index showing the ability of a virus to infect many people. This means that the new coronavirus 'infects about two people from one infected person.' On the other hand, the basic reproduction number of influenza is '2 to 3', and it is said that 'one infected person infects about 2 to 3 people'.

The biggest difference between influenza and the new coronavirus is the presence or absence of a vaccination vaccine. The new coronavirus is a virus newly discovered at the end of 2019, and no effective vaccine has been developed. But on the other hand, vaccines against influenza are being developed every year. However, the vaccination rate is about 50% in Japan, and the vaccine itself does not completely prevent influenza if inoculated.

For the new corona virus in the epidemic in China, WHO is 'not hit the emergency situation' on January 24, 2020 announcement was. On the other hand, seasonal flu is prevalent in each country every year. 'The danger of the new coronavirus is negligible compared to the flu,' said vaccine expert William Schaffner, who works at the medical center at Vanderbilt University in the United States.