Doctor's Opinion: Mass panic may be worse than the coronavirus itself

[steven36]

The coronavirus is here. But fear not.

 

Mass panic is also here. Fear.

 

I’m a doctor and an infectious diseases specialist. I’ve been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner-city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa.

 

HIV-AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, SARS, measles, shingles, whooping cough, diphtheria … there is little I haven’t been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.

 

I am not scared of COVID-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of COVID-19.

 

What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world.

 

I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front-line health care providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others.

 

I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they “probably don’t have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know …” and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.

 

I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games … that could be kiboshed, too.

 

Can you even imagine?

 

I’m scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise, and ultimately culminate in a global recession.

 

But mostly, I’m scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, open-mindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.

 

COVID-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and “fight for yourself above all else” attitude could prove disastrous.

 

I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let’s meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.

 

Facts, not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.

 

Our children will thank us for it.

 

Dr. Abdu Sharkawy is a doctor and an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto in Canada. This is adapted from an article he wrote and permitted InsideSources to distribute.

 

Source 

[ghost]

Agreed, In any scenario Panicking only worsens the situations. 

[dMog]

PANIC is never good, nor is pretending what is wrong is  a minor happenstance, especially when you are the leader of the freaking country.

[aum]

[flash48]

The news media is blowing this up.  More people have malaria than COVID-19.  By the way the corona virus is in the same virus family as the common cold & flu.  So far the flu has killed more people.  All one has to do is Google the number of deaths due to COVID-19 and you will wonder what is the panic all about.   As soon as the weather gets warm the virus will run its course.  Next years flu vaccine will include protection from corona.  This is not the end of the world.  Relax and do not watch the news.

[steven36]

1 hour ago, flash48 said:

The news media is blowing this up.  More people have malaria than COVID-19.  By the way the corona virus is in the same virus family as the common cold & flu.  So far the flu has killed more people.  All one has to do is Google the number of deaths due to COVID-19 and you will wonder what is the panic all about.   As soon as the weather gets warm the virus will run its course.  Next years flu vaccine will include protection from corona.  This is not the end of the world.  Relax and do not watch the news.

It's got the stock market crashing  and everything else  , people  act  we still  live in mid evil times  were people  didn't  take a bath .Nowadays  we wash our hands  and dishes  in anti bacterial soap   . Google  ,Twitter  making there workers stay home is just adding to the panic . I turn the TV on for the person I help take care of i'm a caregiver for a very sick person is what i do now and thats all is on the TV . It's already been unseasonably warm here and like you say soon Air Born Virus season will be over  it needs cold to live in.  In the real world not the  internet world,  life goes on people has too go to work  and i have to do what i do i and have to let  medical staff in my house everyday. I been dealing with a illness  with someone in my  family  for almost 2 years now    its a 24 hour a day job and the rest of the world is worried about catching COVID-19.  If they had to deal with what im going thorough  they would understand life is going to end one day anyway no need to panic .

[flash48]

7 minutes ago, steven36 said:

It's got the stock market crashing  and everything else  , people  act  we still  live in mid evil times  were people  didn't  take a bath .Nowadays  we wash our hands  and dishes  in anti bacterial soap   . Google  ,Twitter  making there workers stay home is just adding to the panic . I turn the TV on for the person I help take care of i'm a caregiver for very a sick person is what i do now and thats all is on the TV . It's already been unseasonably warm here and like you say soon Air Born Virus season will be over  it needs cold to live in.  In the real world not internet world life goes on people has go to work  and i have do what i do i have let  medical staff in my house everyday. I been dealing with a illness  with someone in my family family  for almost 2 years now    its a 24 hour day job and the worried about catching COVID-19.  If they had to deal with what im going thorough  they understand life is going to end one day anyway no need to panic .

I am in the same situation as you.  A family member of mine requires 24 hour care.  I have people constantly coming in, aides, nursers, social workers, doctors,   I understand your situation, it is not easy.  We need to do what we have to do,  You may not want to do it but you have to.

 

Remember, no matter what you do, you must live with you.  If you do not tend to your responsibilities, how can you live with yourself?  This is what keeps me focused .

 

[Karlston]

1 hour ago, flash48 said:

As soon as the weather gets warm the virus will run its course.

 

Not sure it's been proven that warm weather will put a stop to it.

 

In any case, those of us living in the Southern Hemisphere who are now heading towards winter won't have any warm-weather-protection, quite the opposite.

[steven36]

44 minutes ago, Karlston said:

 

Not sure it's been proven that warm weather will put a stop to it.

 

In any case, those of us living in the Southern Hemisphere who are now heading towards winter won't have any warm-weather-protection, quite the opposite.

Its according what experts you talk too. but for  North America its a wait and see thing its not  proven or not proven  . Maciej F. Boni, an associate professor of biology at Penn State University thinks because were not immune to it like were are the FLU  it want  recede. it , But Jeremy Brown, MD, director of the Office of Emergency Care Research at the National Institutes of Health says   COVID-19 will slowly recede as the warmer spring climate provides conditions that the virus cannot tolerate, The 1st out break of Flu  recorded was  1557 before people were immune and very little is known about  it so there no way they really know.

 

 

 

[ghost]

Iran is pretty warm year round, and they are among the higher range of affected countries. 

[steven36]

30 minutes ago, ghost said:

Iran is pretty warm year round, and they are among the higher range of affected countries. 

If you come in contact  with the Flu you can catch it were its warm so that dont prove nothing ,

 

Most everyone has heard the term flu season—in the United States, it's in the fall and winter—but many people have also experienced symptoms they thought were caused by the flu during other times of the year as well. The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused specifically by influenza viruses.

 

You can get influenza any time of year. However, although it is possible to get the flu during the spring or summer, it is extremely unlikely if you haven't been traveling. Most people who think they have the flu actually have any number of other viruses—not influenza—which may have similar symptoms and complications to the flu.

 

Travelers and Influenza

 

Although getting the flu during the late spring and summer is unusual, it is possible. The flu is circulating in some part of the world all the time, which means you can get it at any time. If you are traveling—especially outside of the country—pay close attention to your symptoms and talk to your healthcare provider. Even if you don't have the flu, your doctor needs to know if you have traveled. Different illnesses are predominant in different parts of the world and where you have been could help your doctor order the right tests and make sure you are accurately diagnosed. 

 

https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-you-get-the-flu-in-the-summer-770307

 

FLU is very easy to catch all you have to do is be around someone with it  and you will bring it home and give it to others , Because last time I got it was back in  1999  at work i brought it home and gave it to my woman .

 

Iran had the Spanish flu at the  end of the First World War it resulted in the deaths of millions of people worldwide . The whole world got it because people were traveling  because they was at war .

 

Source: http://www.ams.ac.ir/AIM/010133/0018.htm

[ghost]

5 minutes ago, steven36 said:

If you come in contact  with the Flu you can catch it were its warm so that dont prove nothing ,

 

Most everyone has heard the term flu season—in the United States, it's in the fall and winter—but many people have also experienced symptoms they thought were caused by the flu during other times of the year as well. The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused specifically by influenza viruses.

 

You can get influenza any time of year. However, although it is possible to get the flu during the spring or summer, it is extremely unlikely if you haven't been traveling. Most people who think they have the flu actually have any number of other viruses—not influenza—which may have similar symptoms and complications to the flu.

 

Travelers and Influenza

 

Although getting the flu during the late spring and summer is unusual, it is possible. The flu is circulating in some part of the world all the time, which means you can get it at any time. If you are traveling—especially outside of the country—pay close attention to your symptoms and talk to your healthcare provider. Even if you don't have the flu, your doctor needs to know if you have traveled. Different illnesses are predominant in different parts of the world and where you have been could help your doctor order the right tests and make sure you are accurately diagnosed. 

 

https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-you-get-the-flu-in-the-summer-770307

 

FLU is very easy to catch all you have to do is be around someone with it  and you will bring it home and give it to others , Because last time I got it was back in  1999  at work i brought home and gave it to my woman .

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. Of course direct contact with someone can most likely infect you too. what i intended on saying is that  it's pretty warm there so that should debunk any claims that warm weather theory. Also MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) which is also a Coronavirus. As suggested by the name originated from the middle east. Then there's SARS which is another Coronavirus went away quickly.

 

To sum it up. Coronavirus is hard to predict. 

[Karlston]

This article explains some of the reasons why flu season is in the cold seasons...

 

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151016-the-real-reason-germs-spread-in-the-winter

[steven36]

20 minutes ago, ghost said:

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. Of course direct contact with someone can most likely infect you too. what i intended on saying is that  it's pretty warm there so that should debunk any claims that warm weather theory. Also MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) which is also a Coronavirus. As suggested by the name originated from the middle east. Then there's SARS which is another Coronavirus went away quickly.

 

To sum it up. Coronavirus is hard to predict. 

Like  i put in my post above info from Iran had the Spanish flu pandemic because of people was traveling  back and forth from there. 

 

The Spanish flu outbreak in Iran

 

The 1918 Spanish flu epidemic in Iran occurred during Ahmad Shah Qajar's reign (1909 � 1925). The World War I began in 1914 of which Iran declared neutrality. During the last year of the war, the influenza pandemic began and spread to Iran. At that time, the Russian troops were in Azarbaijan Province and Ghazvin. The English and Indian soldiers were in Bushehr and Bandar-e Lengeh Ports.¹⁵ The Indian soldiers had an influential role in the spread of influenza to the Persian Gulf region and indeed the outbreak reached Bushehr from India. In addition, the public health status in Iran was poor due to a great famine as well as a cholera outbreak and lack of proper medical facilities. Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh, the contemporary writer (1892 � 1997) described this gloomy situation in Shiraz. He wrote: "at the end of WWI, three lethal killers entered Shiraz; they were famine, cholera and the Spanish flu. Many people died and corpses were seen everywhere in the city. The Bazar and shops were closed. There was no doctor, no nurse, and no drug.

 

According to the report of the Health Department of League of Nations in 1924 (six years after the Spanish flu epidemic); at that time, Iran had a population of around 10 million. Tehran's population was 220,000. During the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918, thousands of people died from influenza in Iran. The influenza epidemic entered Iran via the western border from Baghdad to Kermanshah and finally reached Tehran. In August 1918, the influenza epidemic spread to Hamadan and Ghazvin. At the end of August, Birjand in Khorasan Province and Bander-e Anzali in northern Iran were affected. On the first of September, the flu outbreak reached Sistan Province and on the second week of September, the outbreak reached Tabriz from Ghafghaz (Figure 1). Influenza spread to the entire country with the rural areas more affected than urban regions. Ashair tribes, particularly the healthy men died from influenza. The reported mortality rate in the nomadic Ghashghai tribe was as high as 30%. According to Percy Sykes (1916 � 1945), at that time, the city of Shiraz had a population of 50,000 of which 5,000 died from the Spanish flu. The mortality rate in Kermanshah was reported as 1%, but in the villages as many as 20% of the people were reported to have died, a figure which seems exaggerated. In Tehran, during a three month period, 1% of the population died as a result of the Spanish flu. Dr. Dawdson reported the influenza epidemic in Kerman in 1918 which coincided with the famine and the cholera outbreak, but he did not mention the mortality rate.

 

Worldwide, the mortality curve of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic based on the victims� ages showed a "W" pattern rather than the customary "U" shaped pattern as seen with other epidemics, because most victims were men and women aged 15 to 44 years.¹⁹ But, based on the study of Afhkami, contrary to the victims of the Spanish flu pandemic in the �remainder of the world who were mostly young healthy individuals; in Iran, factors such as famine, opium consumption, anemia, and malaria changed the age pattern of the victims and were responsible for a high mortality from the 1918 influenza outbreak.²⁰ As Afhkami pointed out, the total estimated death from the 1918 Spanish influenza in Iran was between 902,400 and 2,431,000, but the real figure was probably� between the two mentioned extremes.

 

Source http://www.ams.ac.ir/AIM/010133/0018.htm

 

[ghost]

25 minutes ago, steven36 said:

Like  i put in my post above info from Iran had the Spanish flu pandemic because of people was traveling  back and forth from there. 

 

The Spanish flu outbreak in Iran

 

The 1918 Spanish flu epidemic in Iran occurred during Ahmad Shah Qajar's reign (1909 � 1925). The World War I began in 1914 of which Iran declared neutrality. During the last year of the war, the influenza pandemic began and spread to Iran. At that time, the Russian troops were in Azarbaijan Province and Ghazvin. The English and Indian soldiers were in Bushehr and Bandar-e Lengeh Ports.¹⁵ The Indian soldiers had an influential role in the spread of influenza to the Persian Gulf region and indeed the outbreak reached Bushehr from India. In addition, the public health status in Iran was poor due to a great famine as well as a cholera outbreak and lack of proper medical facilities. Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh, the contemporary writer (1892 � 1997) described this gloomy situation in Shiraz. He wrote: "at the end of WWI, three lethal killers entered Shiraz; they were famine, cholera and the Spanish flu. Many people died and corpses were seen everywhere in the city. The Bazar and shops were closed. There was no doctor, no nurse, and no drug.

 

According to the report of the Health Department of League of Nations in 1924 (six years after the Spanish flu epidemic); at that time, Iran had a population of around 10 million. Tehran's population was 220,000. During the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918, thousands of people died from influenza in Iran. The influenza epidemic entered Iran via the western border from Baghdad to Kermanshah and finally reached Tehran. In August 1918, the influenza epidemic spread to Hamadan and Ghazvin. At the end of August, Birjand in Khorasan Province and Bander-e Anzali in northern Iran were affected. On the first of September, the flu outbreak reached Sistan Province and on the second week of September, the outbreak reached Tabriz from Ghafghaz (Figure 1). Influenza spread to the entire country with the rural areas more affected than urban regions. Ashair tribes, particularly the healthy men died from influenza. The reported mortality rate in the nomadic Ghashghai tribe was as high as 30%. According to Percy Sykes (1916 � 1945), at that time, the city of Shiraz had a population of 50,000 of which 5,000 died from the Spanish flu. The mortality rate in Kermanshah was reported as 1%, but in the villages as many as 20% of the people were reported to have died, a figure which seems exaggerated. In Tehran, during a three month period, 1% of the population died as a result of the Spanish flu. Dr. Dawdson reported the influenza epidemic in Kerman in 1918 which coincided with the famine and the cholera outbreak, but he did not mention the mortality rate.

 

Worldwide, the mortality curve of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic based on the victims� ages showed a "W" pattern rather than the customary "U" shaped pattern as seen with other epidemics, because most victims were men and women aged 15 to 44 years.¹⁹ But, based on the study of Afhkami, contrary to the victims of the Spanish flu pandemic in the �remainder of the world who were mostly young healthy individuals; in Iran, factors such as famine, opium consumption, anemia, and malaria changed the age pattern of the victims and were responsible for a high mortality from the 1918 influenza outbreak.²⁰ As Afhkami pointed out, the total estimated death from the 1918 Spanish influenza in Iran was between 902,400 and 2,431,000, but the real figure was probably� between the two mentioned extremes.

 

Source http://www.ams.ac.ir/AIM/010133/0018.htm

 

You need to realize i was in agreement with you. Secondly, I did say sorry for not being clear. thirdly I went on to explain what i meant. And Lastly, I did say coronaviruses are hard to predict by giving examples of 3 different types of the same virus family.

[aum]

2 hours ago, steven36 said:

If they had to deal with what im going thorough  they would understand life

 

2 hours ago, flash48 said:

I am in the same situation as you.  A family member of mine requires 24 hour care.  I have people constantly coming in, aides, nursers, social workers, doctors,   I understand your situation, it is not easy.  We need to do what we have to do,  You may not want to do it but you have to.

 

Remember, no matter what you do, you must live with you.  If you do not tend to your responsibilities, how can you live with yourself?  This is what keeps me focused .

There but for the Grace of God goes i.

 

@steven36 @flash48Kudos! May your strength become harder than a diamond and your heart keep spreading the light forever! 

 

[steven36]

18 minutes ago, ghost said:

You need to realize i was in agreement with you. Secondly, I did say sorry for not being clear. thirdly I went on to explain what i meant. And Lastly, I did say coronaviruses are hard to predict by giving examples of 3 different types of the same virus family.

Hot regions are not immune  to diseases when they lots of sick  people  going there  ,thats how it  always starts  as far back as the Black Death It was carried on ships  around the world by a flea on rats .The fleas jump off of the rats  and gave it to humans . Some Flu came from birds and pigs, the worse  conditions  you live in the higher the death  count  will be. Sickness effects the poor most.  AIDs  came from Chimps.

 

For many years scientists theorized as to the origins of HIV and how it appeared in the human population, most believing that HIV originated in other primates. Then in 1999, an international team of researchers reported that they had discovered the origins of HIV-1, the predominant strain of HIV in the developed world. A subspecies of chimpanzees native to west equatorial Africa had been identified as the original source of the virus. The researchers believe that HIV-1 was introduced into the human population when hunters became exposed to infected blood.

https://www.theaidsinstitute.org/education/aids-101/where-did-hiv-come-0

 

[ghost]

14 minutes ago, steven36 said:

Hot regions are not immune  to diseases when they lots of sick  people  going there  ,thats it how  always starts  as far back as the Black Death It was carried on ships  around the world by a fleas on rats .The fleas jump off the rats  and gave it to humans . Some Flu came from birds and pigs, the worse  conditions  you live in the higher the death  count  will be. Sickness effects the poor most.

Bro you need to understand i was in agreement with you already. I had never once said hot regions are immune to viruses. All i was saying was debunking the claim warm weather has any affect on the virus by giving example. i then concluded by saying "it's hard to predict." You need to go back and re-read everything I said.

[steven36]

49 minutes ago, ghost said:

Bro you need to understand i was in agreement with you already. I had never once said hot regions are immune to viruses. All i was saying was debunking the claim warm weather has any affect on the virus. You need to go back and re-read everything I said.

You cant debunk  nothing  tell it happens , its nothing to debunk yet  spring has not got to  the USA yet . they are places in the USA  that are warm   all year  like Southern California thats one of the places its the worse because  that were alot of the Big Tech is the other Place it the worst is Washington state  were  more Big Tech  is .  Now its spreading around to all states .A Virus has to run its  course .Its a true fact people  dont get sick from  flu  were I live in the summer much we don't travel very much around here . No big Airports around for many miles,  No Big Tech workers ether  . Now some of the business owners  who live here who move all are jobs over to ASIA could bring it here  . Thats how its spreading .

 

But  its not hot yet to  tell  if its going  start to die out like the FLU  we dont be exposed to many travelers even. In order for it to be debunked it has  to happen 1st  . I've not been sick from Flu since 1999  i lived in a warmer place  for 8 years other than that i lived were it gets cold in the winter  for the last 14 years.  I only knew one  guy who visit China  in my life personally now  all the rich  business owners been  over  there  i use to work under  years ago in the  late 80s, 90s, early 2000s . The only reason the guy i know went there  was I worked with him  and he went with school  to learn about making stuff cheaper in China .  But ive not seen him since 2004 lol. I'm not  a big fan of free trade it really messed up   were i live  and the jobs still never came back.   It would not matter to me if  they left  China  or not the  damage  is already done . After i get done doing what i am now  im moving away they is nothing here  for me when its over and i was born near here.

[aum]

1 hour ago, ghost said:

You need to realize i was in agreement with you.

 

1 hour ago, ghost said:

Bro you need to understand i was in agreement with you already.

You have now said what needed to be said already.  That's all you could do, Bro.  🙂