The Coronavirus seems scary.
We like to think that we’re pretty safe in the modern world. When we get sick, we go to the doctor and get some amazing modern medicine, and we get better. Even horrible things like cancer seem to be yielding to advances in medicine.
But … there have been dreadful illnesses in the past (even the relatively recent past) that have wiped out huge numbers of people. Why should we feel we are exempt?
The question remains … should we panic or not? Here’s my quick over / under on it.
Reasons to panic.
* The Chinese can’t be trusted, part 1. They’re under-reporting cases and keeping this under wraps.
* The Chinese can’t be trusted, part 2. This might be a virus that escaped from one of their weapons labs, and they don’t want to let the rest of the world know.
* Despite immense incentives to keep people with coronavirus alive (to avoid panic), the death toll is mounting.
* So far, the virus has been in relatively advanced cultures. If it were to hit the third world, absolute chaos would ensue.
Reasons not to panic.
* Unlike diseases of the past, we have incredible infrastructure to deal with this. The CDC and other very competent professionals are on the case.
* People die from the flu every year. This is just another version of the flu.
* The media is in the business of scaring us. Scary stories increase eyeballs and clicks. So don’t believe what you hear.
* There have been lots of “end of the world” scares recently that fizzled. Why should we believe this one?
What do you think?
Exercise prudent precautions but don’t panic.
Coronavirus:
Dangerous? Yes. Just how dangerous? Depends on how good the Chinese are at engineering biological weapons. We’ll soon see.