Coronovirus or the Flu?








It seems like every time I turn on the news, there's a story about the Coronavirus. And people are confused. I have heard people are searching for more information about the "beer virus." Hmm, okay.....I guess Corona is a brand of beer!?

What are the symptoms of Coronavirus anyway? According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

"..... respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death."

The latest stats for Coronavirus  (as of February 4th, 2020) are:


Coronaviruses are usually transferred from animal to human. But, there are cases here in the U.S. where it has transferred person to person.

Why are so many people worried about Coronavirus? Well, it is more deadly than the flu. Coronavirus has a 2% death rate, while the flu has a 0.095% death rate.

But let's not forget about how many people are affected by the seasonal flu (influenza.) What are the symptoms of the flu? 

"Fever/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults.) Also, not everyone with flu will have a fever."

Hard to tell the difference between the two, right? 
 
Did you know that during the 2019-2020 flu season:
  • 19 million American have contracted the flu 
  • 180,000 have been hospitalized 
  • 10,000 people have died so far

Wow! There are a LOT more people being affected by the flu than Coronavirus. And there is a flu shot available each year for influenza, but there is currently no vaccine for Coronavirus.

So, how to avoid getting sick from either virus?

The WHO recommends washing your hands (simple, right?!) That goes a long way to protecting you from picking up germs on your hands and touching your nose or mouth.

I wash my hands all the time and also carry hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes in my purse, and a pop up canister in my car. I'm not taking any chances, I have lots of ways to keep cleaning my hands.


I will walk out of a meeting, movie, or church if someone is sneezing and coughing near me. Any respiratory infection is ALWAYS worse when you have asthma. Sigh
 
Also, be careful when you are sick! Ever seen someone sneeze into their hand and then grab a doorknob or reach out to shake your hand? Yikes! Teachers now show kids how to sneeze into their elbow, throw their tissues away, and then wash their hands after they blow their nose. We need to teach adults this now too!



You know your body (and how your kids react when they are sick.) If you are sick (or your kids are sick), and you are worried - call your doctor! It's hard to tell if it's a cold, influenza or something worse (it has morphed into pneumonia.)


Keep washing those hands and pay attention to any symptoms that getting worse or seem "not right". 

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