Coronavirus Testing

M0nica it is not at all wrong to identify certain cultures as the source of epidemics such as this threatens to be. The link with cultural traditions and practices cannot be ignored
Epidemiologists are not yet in full agreement about the precise animal culprit but there is no doubt the outbreak originated from a local “wet” market selling dead and live animals.
The outbreak resulted from an animal-to-human species-jump – as do three of four new human infectious disease epidemics. HIV/Aids, Ebola, Zika and bird flu, as well as previous Sars and Mers coronavirus outbreaks, each originated in animals.
Most animal viruses are quickly eliminated by human defences. But it takes just one new viral strain and a vulnerable human host to catalyse an entirely new disease outbreak.
Wet markets put a variety of live animals in proximity to large numbers of handlers, sellers and customers. The resulting contact of humans each year provides millions – if not billions – of opportunities for new strains of coronavirus, influenza or viruses to make their way into us.
We might wonder if wet markets are such a threat to public health, why not ban them? The Chinese government tried this in 2013 and the banned ones were quickly replaced by a raft of potentially more dangerous black markets.
Wet markets are important sources of affordable food for growing urban populations. They are embedded in cultures economies throughout Asia. Making wet markets safer while over time shifting consumer preferences to better sources provides a sensible alternative to an outright ban. Following the 2003 SARS outbreak, Hong Kong took a series of measures to strengthen regulation of wet markets and their animal supply chains.
Among these were disinfection, reducing faecal contamination, and hygienic slaughtering. Consumers were educated on safe handling of wet market purchases. Similar measures have been implemented in Thailand, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

I think we should all calm down and stop this awful blame game. So far everyone tested in UK has tested negative so that’s good news The Chinese have acted very quickly they are on shut down in Wuhan and are now building the second large hospital to contain the epidemic (would we act as fast ???)
We could have acted as quickly and set up some form of 7 day isolation to travellers from Wuhan
The Chinese are very mask orientated not necessarily to prevent illnesses but from the awful air quality from such an industrial country
Half the illness of the world were inflicted by our travels C19th we really do have to get things in or respective
Maybe the most people dying are elderly or people with lung troubles already we just don’t know

With all the unrest, division the climate problems and unhappiness in the world perhaps these spreading illnesses (and the swarm of locusts I read about recently) are a sign that just like the dinosaurs we re going to be extinguished

Monica I take your point. Scarily, from a quick look at the news this morning it seems to be much worse than first thought. More have died and many more infected if reports are accurate.

tickingbird I am not turning it into a racist issue. I was just pointing out that it is puzzling that these specifically respiratory infections arise only in China when two other continents have similar conditions. The diseases that have arisen in Africa are very different.

If the vector that leads to these infections can be isolated, then means of preventing them making the jump from animal to human and then human to human, can be developed.

Many foods that start as the food of poverty become the food of wealth. Oysters for example. Caviar is probably another. I would never defend anyone eating live animals, but small mammals are regularly predated and eaten live by their natural predators.

They say this virus has only just become active but I read quite a few weeks ago about some sort of plague somewhere in China. I made a mental note of it because a member of my family is travelling there later this year. But no more was said about it. Is there a link?

Monica please don't turn this into a racist issue. Although it isn't really relevant the Chinese do some horrific things to animals and sometimes eat live animals - not insects but small mammals. Not necessarily out of poverty either. It's sometimes seen as a sign of wealth. It seems to be the common denominator is animals. HIV is supposedly from the green monkey, bird flu and I read something about SARS but can't remember it now. It does seem strange that the respiratory illnesses seem to come from China.

tickingbird the interesting point is that what you say about China could apply to Africa and South America. Places with large populations, eating food we are unfamiliar with and would not want to eat. Poverty and starvation can make people desperate. Shipwreck sailors have been known to eat the corpses of shipmates and animals are sold live in markets on these continents.

Ebola and HIV have come out of Africa, but these seem to have been transfers from monkeys to humans rather chickens and domestic fowl. But these respiratory diseases seem only to come out of China, not sure why.

In South America, European invaders introduced measles, smallpox and syphilis.

They eat some pretty revolting stuff over there and many live in close proximity to chickens, pigs, mice etc. They have these markets with live animals being killed on the spot. Is it any wonder these viruses get a hold over there. They have such a huge population and although there is wealth there is also extreme poverty and many people living in very cramped, overcrowded areas. The death toll is rising and a doctor has now died. They are trying to build two hospitals in a week! Let’s just hope it doesn’t become a pandemic.

Coincidently there is a working biochemical laboratory in Wuhan, that studies the world's most dangerous pathogens and viruses ......

pbs.twimg.com/media/EO_7ozLW4AQI4Ub?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

Tend to believe that poor chap in Wuhan than the Chinese Authorities - looks like they missed a zero off their numbers

I think the Chinese have acted in a responsible manner. Within a week or two of the disease appearing they have placed the source city in quarantine, shut down places of public congregation and stopped travel, even though it is Chinese New Year. Imagine how the inhabitants of Manchester would react if someone shut the city down and forbade travel four days before Christmas! The quarantine has now been extended to other cities and the province.

Temperature tests tell you nothing, both people in the UK found with temperatures have been discharged because they had something else, not this illness and lack of a temperature is no guarentee that the person has not got the illness but has yet to show signs.

We know that the health authorities are tracing up 2,000 people who have flown into this country from the area over the last few weeks, not an easy thing to do, because you do not ask people coming through an airport what their destination address is, and some will have left the country already.

I understood that instructions to anyone thinking they have the disease is to contact the health services by dialling 111 or ringing a doctors surgery.

I am not sure what else the Chinese or British authorities can do.

Tweedle I have worked with surgeons who have operated for hours without the necessity to change masks. This, in an infection free environment being one of the main priorities.

I heard on the radio that the Chinese are now obliged by law to wear masks if going into public places such as hairdressers or restaurants.
Two comments: how does one eat if wearing a mask?
Masks need to be changed regularly as they are no longer effective if they get damp. I have travelled on long haul flights with Asians wearing masks and not changing them for hours on end.

No one here has yet been found to be infectious. I’m immune suppressed , but still I think we need to take a big breath before we panic.

Re covering nose and mouth reminds of childhood and the necessity to do just that with a scarf as we made away around outside in a thick awful tasting fog. Not an unusual or rare sight.

This is very worrying of course, and I understand that people are anxious, but why angry?
Viruses are unpredictable and mutate frequently, and though the majority are not dangerous, a pandemic is still the greatest threat to human life.
Quarantine doesn't work very well, because as mentioned previously, infected persons can be outside the area and spreading the infection before anyone has realised that there is a problem.
No point being angry, because at present there is nothing anyone can do to change this situation.
Best save your anger for our government who appear to be destroying the NHS. We shall need it's skilled aid if we have an epidemic.

2 confirmed cases in France tonight but some good news just now in the Guardian:

“This time the aim is to have a viable vaccine in production within as little as 16 weeks – although testing for safety and efficacy will take longer.

One advantage is that the new coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, belongs to the same family as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), for which a vaccine was developed following the 2002 outbreak. “Certainly that information will give us a head start,” said Prof Brendan Wren, dean of the faculty of infectious and tropical diseases at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).”

Bet you’re glad to be in Switzerland Gagajo.
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Good call.

This idea of testing for a temperature at airports etc is ridiculous. You can be infected and infectious for about 48 hours before you show any sign of symptoms like fever.

I am just relating what happened at HK Airport when another virus was rampant, and we were checked as we went through. Someone we know was stopped (at Singapore) and sent to hospital there before being allowed to travel on.

who had the flu vaccine, got better much more quickly. even though it wasn't, apparently, flu.
He had had the pneumonia vaccine a few years ago though.

EllanVannin
It does make you wonder what all us ladies have had with our coughing and spluttering since we all ? had our 'flu jabs before Christmas as the type of bug we seemed to have had was obviously not covered by the vaccination ? My thoughts.

It's a virus causing a cough which lingers on and on but it wasn't flu. Unfortunately, I wasn't well enough to have the flu vaccination then got this virus before I had a chance to have it. DH, who had the flu vaccine, got better much more quickly.

The trouble is that researchers are always trying to catch up with these viruses and other infections as they mutate.

It's horrible seeing people in masks whatever the reason, like a science fiction movie.
It just seems the norm if travelling to places in the Far East. However, I am not keen to go at the moment.

Gagajo you must be relieved you chose not to go there!

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A WHO Doctor talking on channel 4 news has just stated 'this is the most worried I have ever been' That's good enough for me.

It does make a lot of sense to wear masks especially at this time of year when so many are spreading airborne germs around.

No idea if this will take off in the UK though.

Bush meat is sometimes available in UK - illegal.

I read in the paper today about the sort of meat on sale in Wuhan market. Some of it is still alive. It sounds horrific. Eating exotic meat in China is very fashionable - an indication of wealth - and it's likely to continue.

The route of one of the buses I sometimes catch goes past the expensive student accommodation blocks that the Chinese students largely use. The bus can be absolutely heaving with Chinese students. Worries me a bit. It's Graduation this week, there must be quite a number of Chinese parents who have flown over.

For some years now quite a few female Chinese students wear face masks.