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Coronavirus Disease 2019 vs. the Flu
Johns Hopkins ^ | March 9, 2020 | Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H.

Posted on 03/09/2020 4:52:17 PM PDT by Romans Nine

Coronavirus Disease 2019 vs. the Flu Influenza “the flu” and COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, are both infectious respiratory illnesses. Although the symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu can look similar, the two illnesses are caused by different viruses.

As of Mar. 9, 2020, the flu is showing much more of an impact on Americans than COVID-19. You can find up-to-date information on COVID-19 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Lisa Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H., senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins, explains how the flu and COVID-19 are similar and how they are different.

Similarities: COVID-19 and the Flu

Symptoms

Both cause fever, cough, body aches, fatigue; sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Can be mild or severe, even fatal in rare cases. Can result in pneumonia. Transmission

Both can be spread from person to person through droplets in the air from an infected person coughing, sneezing or talking. A possible difference: COVID-19 might be spread through the airborne route (see details below under Differences). Flu can be spread by an infected person for several days before their symptoms appear, and COVID-19 is believed to be spread in the same manner, but we don’t yet know for sure. Treatment

Neither virus is treatable with antibiotics, which only work on bacterial infections. Both may be treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever. Severe cases may require hospitalization and support such as mechanical ventilation. Prevention

Both may be prevented by frequent, thorough hand washing, coughing into the crook of your elbow, staying home when sick and limiting contact with people who are infected.

Differences: COVID-19 and the Flu

Cause

COVID-19: Caused by one virus, the novel 2019 coronavirus, now called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2.

Flu: Caused by any of several different types and strains of influenza viruses.

Transmission

While both the flu and COVID-19 may be transmitted in similar ways (see the Similarities section above), there is also a possible difference: COVID-19 might be spread through the airborne route, meaning that tiny droplets remaining in the air could cause disease in others even after the ill person is no longer near.

Antiviral Medications

COVID-19: Antiviral medications are currently being tested to see if they can address symptoms.

Flu: Antiviral medications can address symptoms and sometimes shorten the duration of the illness.

Vaccine

COVID-19: No vaccine is available at this time, though it is in progress.

Flu: A vaccine is available and effective to prevent some of the most dangerous types or to reduce the severity of the flu.

Infections

COVID-19: Approximately 113,579 cases worldwide; 607 cases in the U.S. as of Mar. 9, 2020.

Flu: Estimated 1 billion cases worldwide; 9.3 million to 45 million cases in the U.S. per year.

Deaths

COVID-19: Approximately 3,995 deaths reported worldwide; 22 deaths in the U.S., as of Mar. 9, 2020.

Flu: 291,000 to 646,000 deaths worldwide; 12,000 to 61,000 deaths in the U.S. per year.

The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly. Since this disease is caused by a new virus, people do not have immunity to it, and a vaccine may be many months away. Doctors and scientists are working on estimating the mortality rate of COVID-19, but at present, it is thought to be higher than that of most strains of the flu.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: chinavirusinfo; coronavirus; disease; flu; health; johnshopkins
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To: JoSixChip

That is TOTAL cases. Click on it to display the US deaths and recoveries.


21 posted on 03/09/2020 5:12:26 PM PDT by trublu
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To: Romans Nine

Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE

https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Updated every 12 hours.


22 posted on 03/09/2020 5:12:37 PM PDT by LucyT
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To: DannyTN

To that I’ll just say, why are there only 7 deaths among the Diamond Princess group? That’s 1% of the 700 infected. For that matter, why weren’t more infected?

There is a lot of conjecture flying around, but the mortality rate is looking more like 1% once you weed through the hype.


23 posted on 03/09/2020 5:12:52 PM PDT by Ragnar Danneskjöld
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To: Travis McGee

Stop watching CNN, wash your hands, stay away from people.


24 posted on 03/09/2020 5:13:34 PM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope.)
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To: proust

Is this a how we save a Social Security graph?


25 posted on 03/09/2020 5:13:42 PM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
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To: JoSixChip

You’re right....80 yr.olds have compromised systems...a simple cold can quickly lead to pnemonia and their systems won’t go the distance if they aren’t careful.

People in their 70’s also need to be sure they don’t just wing it when ill but get to their Dr. if they come down with something. Head it off at the pass rather than wait until it’s something more serious and the risk greater.


26 posted on 03/09/2020 5:14:17 PM PDT by caww
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To: trublu

Recovery takes weeks to verify.


27 posted on 03/09/2020 5:15:22 PM PDT by JoSixChip (I'm an American Nationalist)
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To: trublu

Is “cases” defined as people hospitalized and diagnosed with a test?

Once again know one is looking at total number of infections.


28 posted on 03/09/2020 5:15:59 PM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
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To: Truthoverpower

Does one not have to be concerned about Argyria developing due to long term colloidal silver usage?


29 posted on 03/09/2020 5:16:39 PM PDT by traderrob6
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To: Truthoverpower
CBD is better, it fixes everything don’t you know.😎 I’m familiar with colloidal silver. I’m also familiar with good hygiene around the house, when out in public, not putting hands to your face or eyes, and minimizing the use of antibiotics, steroids and medication in general. My wife and I haven’t been sick in 12-15 years (besides my Gallbladder surgery) and then it was nothing we had to get medication for. We have raised 4 children who also have rarely been sick, two of which are Marines so you know they’ve been exposed to all sorts of stuff. When our kids were growing we let sickness run it’s course and they developed healthy immune systems which has seemed to pay dividends.
30 posted on 03/09/2020 5:17:54 PM PDT by Romans Nine
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To: DannyTN
Even S. Korea is 7 times worse than the flu.

The S. Korea cases are mostly from a very large religious gathering consisting of mostly young people. The lower death rates in younger people is skewing the death rate to the low side compared to populations outside S. Korea. A better sample set across a complete range of ages is necessary to get an valid results.

31 posted on 03/09/2020 5:19:18 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Romans Nine
Hopkins,along with Harvard,Columbia,Mayo Clinic and Stanford,is considered to be among the very best medical schools in the world.

IOW...when Hopkins speaks the medical community (worldwide) listens.

32 posted on 03/09/2020 5:20:24 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (The Rats Can't Get Over The Fact That They Lost A Rigged Election)
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To: Romans Nine
COVID-19

It's the Hunan Flu Virus.

33 posted on 03/09/2020 5:20:27 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: Grampa Dave

The problem is Hopkins isn’t wired into all the data bases collecting information.....even the CDC is limited because there’s so many Independent labs and tests being done in Dr. offices and Hospitals who don’t report to the CDC.

Te best we can know is where this virus is ‘clustered’. And that is helpful to avoid those areas if possible, or hunker down if you’re in one.


34 posted on 03/09/2020 5:21:12 PM PDT by caww
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To: JoSixChip
Pence stated today the the average age of those who have died from covid-19 is 80.

No, Pence said the MEDIAN age of those who have died is 80. Half the deaths are 80+, half the deaths are age 0 to 80.

35 posted on 03/09/2020 5:21:47 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: JoSixChip

How many illegals aren’t reporting this at all....figure that.


36 posted on 03/09/2020 5:22:59 PM PDT by caww
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To: Romans Nine


37 posted on 03/09/2020 5:23:21 PM PDT by Chode (Send bachelors and come heavily armed.)
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To: Beagle8U

38 posted on 03/09/2020 5:24:15 PM PDT by Fresh Wind (The Electoral College is the firewall protecting us from massive blue state vote fraud.)
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To: trublu

exactly


39 posted on 03/09/2020 5:25:11 PM PDT by Mom MD
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To: Chode

Tell me how many will die from Covid19 next week and I’ll tell you how many will be killed by Jeffrey Dahmer.


40 posted on 03/09/2020 5:26:28 PM PDT by proust (Justice delayed is injustice.)
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