Not sure if there is another thread on this, but I ask for those who may know about this sort of thing: Is this something we should be concerned about? Obviously it is, but I mean, are we looking at a pandemic? Also curious why the previous SARS illness has no vaccine. Is the current pneumonia vaccine effective at all against this class of illness?
I haven't noticed another thread, but then I've been very much the part-timer just lately.
So please feel free to post me a link someone, if I'm missing a thread.
From what I've seen
Rrty it should very much be taken seriously. I suspect the virus will gain a foothold in most countries before too long. The important thing to remember for now though, is that it is no more dangerous than the typical influenza bugs. Which means, that yes it can be fatal to those with compromised immune systems, typically elderly people, the very young and the unwell.
It appears more communicable because there currently is no vaccine, but it doesn't (presently) seem to have a higher death rate than the influenza bugs that we see every winter season--so, lots of people will likely contract it and become very unwell, but unless a country is not equipped to handle high numbers of seriously unwell people, it (in theory) should not decimate large numbers of those populations.
Having said that, I would feel very worried for some nations, for example Samoa is still reeling from the terrible measles outbreak (likely started from New Zealand tourists
) and would very likely not do well in the case of a huge outbreak of the Corona virus, they just do not have the resources. I suspect there are many countries that would be in a similar situation, so yes, it has the potential to be disastrous for many nations.