[2win]

Coronavirus has upended the world. Reading about a disease that can make the lungs drown in fluid and put the body into septic shock is utterly terrifying. I think everyone has now imagined the horror imagery of being connected to a breathing machine, gasping for the last breaths of life. This pandemic has me afraid for my life and my friends and families life. For the life of society as we knew it. At times though I go into a state of denial and my mind wanders into the "flu hoax". Let me share some of that perspective.

There is another global pandemic and it has been going on for a long time. Almost 150 years. Not influenza (the flu), which kills 250 to 500 thousand people in the world per year. Tuberculosis. Know anyone who has died from it? Probably not. Do American's get vaccinated for it or something? No. We test for it and only have an incidence of 2-3 per 100k people. For some perspective, in 2018, over two hundred thousand children died of Tuberculosis. Yes, 200,000 children in one year. The World Health Organization (everyone is familiar with them now) reports 1.5 million people die per year of tuberculosis. That's an average of over four thousand people dying per day, every day of the year. As of today 22 thousand people have died from Coronavirus worldwide.

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis

We just passed world tuberculosis day, March 24. Nobody cared. So why don't we care about tuberculosis? Because it's not prevalent in America anymore. Or Europe. It's actually estimated that 1/4 of the worlds population has tuberculosis. Ironically from what I have read I believe that will likely be very similar to the global infection rate of coronavirus. Tuberculosis is also coincidentally a respiratory disease. It is most often spread person to person through respiratory droplets (coughing and sneezing). The death also being similar - respiratory distress. The difference being that SARS-CoV2 (coronavirus) kills much quicker. Not that a more drawn out death is more appealing.

I don't want to minimize the threat of coronavirus, but I think it helps to have some perspective. There is always pain and death in the world. It's always lurking right around the corner. I hope if you read this you will take a break from reading death counts and hospital supplies and capacity horror stories and enjoy the health, happiness, and loved ones you have.

https://www.tballiance.org/why-new-tb-drugs/global-pandemic

 

[2win]

Well put. Though I believe your argument is a bit of a strawman. As no disease goes “unchecked” in society. We may not have a vaccine (yet), and we may not have as many therapeutics (though many are being used), but we do similarly have testing capabilities and are attempting to regionally erradicate the virus. I think tuberculosis is way worse in that it’s been around 150 years and there is no “cure” or decent vaccine. I highly doubt 1.5million people will die of coronavirus this year or next year worldwide. Though it is likely if it went “unchecked” that hypothetical doesn’t exist. While we see that coronavirus does have viability in warmer and more humid climates I believe contagion will be somewhat seasonal. In that more sun and humidity will “slow the spread”. Sun is good for killing viruses and boosting immunity and viruses suspend longer in dryer air and indoors.

 

[2win]

What we also need to talk about is the cost of reacting and the risk over time.

How can 150 years be compared to 4 months?

My purpose was to bring perspective. We are being bombarded with stats and scary news stories. My point was a reminder that death is a constant. We mustn't kill ourselves with fear. That being said I'm staying home. Food and internet is enough to keep me pretty happy. And walking. I stay home for all humans, not just me and I think a lot of people are doing the same. Let's see where else we can improve life, for everyone.

I'm surprised all of the likenings to the flu and hope that tuberculosis can get the attention it needs as it's the number one killer and for awhile. I don't value any humans life over another's. Why TB is such a problem in countries like China and India, I can only assume is due to poverty, though I'm sure there are many perspectives on this topic alone.