With the recent outbreak of a novel coronavirus, there has been a drastic increase in concern about how to handle the spread of the disease.
The origin of the outbreak is believed to be a wholesale market in Wuhan. According to The New York Times, Chinese government officials have “called for an overhaul of environmental sanitation standards…and for a crackdown on the trade in wildlife, which has been identified as the probable source.” The majority of the outbreaks have occurred within China, with a reported 24,353 cases and 491 deaths as of the afternoon of Feb. 5, according to NBC.
Hong Kong has begun closing the majority of its points of entry with the mainland after public protest. According to NBC, “More than 2,500 medical workers went on strike Monday to demand a fully closed border. They said they were unsatisfied by the partial closings, and many continued to strike on Tuesday.” However, a few borders are remaining open for the time being, as of Feb. 5.
Where the US is concerned, there are far fewer confirmed cases than in China. According to the CDC, the US states with confirmed cases are: Washington, California, Arizona, Illinois, and Massachusetts. There are 11 confirmed cases across these states, 206 suspected cases that tested negative, and 76 cases that are pending testing as of Feb. 5. Fear about the virus in the US has prompted the Trump Administration to issue a travel ban for China. While closing the borders may be a good idea to slow the spread of the disease, the panic over the disease seems unjustified with what we know.
According to Hanna Hardister, a junior Nursing major from Ripley, Tennessee, “Compared to the number of people infected, the virus isn’t very deadly. Two in 100 cases are fatal. This means it’s less deadly than the flu. The coronavirus isn’t new, but this strain is. That’s why it’s such a huge issue right now.”
While this disease doesn’t have a particularly high death rate, the overriding concern is with the rapid spread of the disease worldwide and the fear the virus has sparked. With the uncertainty around the virus, increased precautions and border controls are being implemented throughout the world. At this point, however, there have not been any major developments in treatment.
The main issue with the coronavirus is the mass hysteria that has arisen due to misinformation. There’s no evidence that suggests the disease itself is particularly dangerous, any more so than the flu, and the majority of those who died were immunocompromisized individuals. Hardister went on to voice a concern for the effect these fears will have on Chinese-American citizens and even our own Chinese exchange students on campus. The majority of the concern is unjustified and is leading to increased xenophobia and international conflict. Many are using the disease as a way to justify prejudices against Chinese immigrants as well as Chinese citizens.
With all the information at hand, the concern over the coronavirus is mainly uncalled for, and the seriousness of the disease has been over exaggerated by sensational media coverage and irrational prejudice.
