Perspective: The swine flu pandemic of 2009
NOTICE: We recommend that all U.S. residents (and residents of other countries) follow the guidelines of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control. Follow the orders of your state and local government, wear protective gear and socially distance from others. Remain calm and continue to monitor this changing situation, taking great caution and care to keep yourself and others safe.
Novel coronavirus was first detected in China at the end of November 2019, it was recently revealed. It’s been around for four months. In the first four months of swine flu, 4,000 Americans were already dead. The pandemic hit children and young adults harder than seasonal influenza, as well as Native American communities. The flu caused deaths around the world - a Yankee export.
As of this writing, the worldwide SARS-CoVid-2 (novel coronavirus) numbers are the following:
WORLDWIDE: 307,000 cases
95,828 recovered
Currently Infected Patients 189,633 (95%) in Mild Condition
9,943 (5%) Serious or Critical
CLOSED CASES 108,897
Cases with an outcome:
95,828 (88%) Recovered / Discharged
13,069 (12%) Deaths
Source: worldometers.com/coronavirus
NOTE: These viruses are not the same virus. However, they are both respiratory and both are transmitted through the air and on surfaces. Both spread very quickly. While we at Back to Facts urge everyone to remain cautious about novel coronavirus, we should also remain calm. Ninety-five percent of the cases are “mild condition.”
In 2009, only 42 schools closed around the country, and President Obama did not declare a state of emergency until October 2009. CDC and WHO did declare a public health emergency on April 25, 2009.
(Public health emergency (United States) In the United States, a public health emergency declaration releases resources meant to handle an actual or potential public health crisis. Recent examples include incidents of flooding, severe weather, the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak, and the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak.)
What has changed? For one thing, social media alerts us anytime anyone tests positive. j
PERSPECTIVE.
