01-31-2020, 12:04 PM
(01-31-2020, 11:20 AM)Benton Wrote: It could be, but what made things like the Spanish Flu is typically what makes all flu strains deadly: lack of access to clean water and basic healthcare.
It was far more complex then that, It wiped out 675k people in the U.S. many of which had plenty of access to basic heath care ,although it wasn't very good it was the same care they received for other Flu's of the time, and clean water. In fact it originally started with U.S. soldiers it is believed who essentially spread the virus across the country and eventually into Europe when they crossed over to France for the war. What made the Spanish Flu so deadly was that it was not only deadly to the young or elderly but ravished the 20-40 year old demographic at almost the same rate as the more at risk groups. It was unique because it went after the upper and lower respiratory system. By infecting the upper tract it was very easily transmittable but by infecting the lower tract as well it became far more dangerous. This was somewhat unique because most flu viruses are an either or, not necessarily both.
Coming back full circle to this strain of coronavirus, it's how easily it can be transmitted that has scientist worried. It doesn't appear the mortality rate is especially high when treated for non at risk groups but there is a certain amount of degradation in healthcare overall if the system gets over run.