Data from China shows the majority of people with Covid-19 only suffer mild symptoms, then recover

[Andy823]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/health/covid-19-recovery-rates-intl/index.html


(CNN)

Most people who contract the novel coronavirus experience mild symptoms, according to data from China, where the worst of the epidemic now appears to be over.

Last month, scientists from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention published a research paper analyzing the data for the first 72,314 people diagnosed with Covid-19.

pidemiologists say it will take a long time to fully understand the mechanics of the coronavirus outbreak, but the information published by the Chinese scientists may give some insight into those most vulnerable to the virus.

The data shows that men and women have roughly the same chance of contracting the virus. When the scientists looked at 44,672 patients confirmed to have the disease, they found there were 106 diagnosed men per 100 women.

However, the impact on men appears to be worse, at least among those who were part of this initial study. While 2.8% of the men diagnosed with the disease died, only 1.7% of women did.

You should go to the link above and read the whole article.

[AlexSFCA]

1. I think young people worry mostly about transmitting to elderly

not for themselves. We know there were no deaths for those who are younger than 50.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. There have been many deaths of people younger than 50.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2020-03-18/coronavirus-covid-younger-people-also-risk-serious-illness-death/12059326

[hamsterjill]

2. The "it's not deadly to you unless you die" mentality?

SMH....

[crimycarny]

5. No one said it wasn't deadly

The OP is simply posted important information. For one I'm grateful it isn't as deadly as SARS or MERS, but that doesn't mean I don't take this virus seriously.

[Andy823]

10. Thank you for the post.

Yes, I was trying to get out some information that was not just some person on the internet posting doom and gloom with no sources to back it up, which I see every day here.

As was posted down thread, it's very serious, but it's not the end for everyone that gets it.

[crimycarny]

13. I appreciate it

I get tired of the doom and gloom as well. As soon as you post anything slightly positive it's often met with an admonition of "not taking it seriously enough" or not caring about the deaths that have occurred. People can be concerned but hopeful at the same time. Those two emotions aren't mutually exclusive. I say if there is good news to be had--share it!

[hamsterjill]

14. Good. It should be taken seriously.

But headlines like in the CNN article lend themselves to younger people NOT taking it seriously.

The rate of transmission from asymptomatic people to others - young and old - has not yet been established and until it is better known, everyone should be taking this seriously.

[crimycarny]

15. I have more faith in our youth

Most everyone I know, including my teenager kids and their friends, are taking this very seriously. These kids have had their lives upended with cancelled proms, Spring Sports, SAT/ACT testing, etc. Yes, yes, I know that this pales in comparison with death, I'm simply stating that as a teenager who hasn't lived through a lot of life yet, these are big deals and adding a lot to an already anxious situation for them.

The Spring Break group that flocked to Florida aside (and what parent would allow that??), every kid I know has had to cancel their Spring Break plans, including my daughter. One of my daughter's friends won't visit her grandmother who lives right next door because she is terrified she (the teenager) might have the virus and not know it, thus might infect her grandmother.

The kids I know are frightened and looking to adults as to how they should react. So a bit of calm isn't going to hurt anything. One article in CNN that is reassuring won't make them run out into the streets without a care in the world. At least not in my neck of the woods.

[hamsterjill]

16. I'm happy that you are seeing that from youth.

I’m not seeing so much of that in my very red neck of the woods. There are still countless people, families in fact, that don’t believe this is real. No one they know personally has been affected (yet) so they still think it’s all being overblown.

I welcome your perspective but my take on this is just a bit different. I hope you can understand my perspective, as well. That’s what DU is about - discussion, so thanks for that.

[crimycarny]

17. That must be frustrating

I should check with my sister and ask what she is seeing in regards to the youth out there. She lives in a pretty rural/redneck'y small town in the midwest.

But, yes, where I'm at people are taking it very seriously, including all the kids. That, at least, was been heartening.

[uponit7771]

3. We known that since start its the CFR, R0 and incubation period that is HORRIBLE with this virus

... next thing that's horrible is people like Trump ignor

[Hoyt]

4. I think that is the most important thing to remember. It's not a death knell. Just don't spread it

because one feels good.

[Andy823]

9. Exactly

Everyone should take this seriously, but as you stated it's not a death knell. I have so mach doom and gloom here lately, most from questionable posters who have no sources for their remarks, they just spread BS and then most post and run!

I live in Washington State, and on the coast it's really bad. I have family on the coast. My niece had a person where she worked that caught it, and my Nephew's boss caught it. They are both doing fine, so far, and haven't showed symptoms.

[Hoyt]

11. Exactly back. The doom and gloom is not helping. I despise trump, but it doesn't bother me

when he says he is hopeful the malaria drug might help, although he's a bit too positive.

The docs while not as enthusiastic -- speaking through the filter of a scientist that wants to see proof -- admit there is anecdotal evidence from China that it helps and there are few side effects (when used in a hospital, as opposed to your local GP writing prescriptions).

Take care on the west coast.

[Ms. Toad]

6. "Mild" includes anyone who does not need supplemental oxygen

Not mild, as we normally think of it for the flu or respiratory illness - :25 - :33

[Mike 03]

8. Very valable!

[crimycarny]

12. "Spillover" by David Quammen -- investigation of various animal to human viruses

Just picked up this book yesterday. It's a fascinating (and scary) view into how animal viruses jumping to humans is becoming more and more common due to the tearing down of our ecosystem.

The book was written in 2012. It's an investigation into various viruses that have jumped from animals to humans, including Ebola, HIV, SARS, etc.

Reading through the section on SARS was absolutely terrifying. What saved SARS from being a pandemic was that the symptoms largely appeared before someone was highly contagious so those infected were much easier to identify and isolate. COVID-19 is the opposite. SARS originated from bats but was spread by an "amplifier host", which is another animal that is infected secondarily. This particular amplifier host was a civet cat, sold in the "wet markets" in Guangdong province.

This section of the book is prophetic (and explains why widespread and rapid testing is so key):

"If SARS had conformed to the perverse pattern of presymptomatic infectivity, it's 2003 emergence wouldn't be a case history in good luck and effective outbreak response. It would be a much dakrer story.

The much darker story remains to be told, probably not about this virus but about another. When the Next Big One comes, we can guess, it will likely conform to the same perverse pattern, high infectivity preceding notable symptoms. That will help it to move through cities and airports like an angel of death."

We are very very lucky this particular virus isn't as deadly as SARS (10% death rate) or MERS (30% death rate). I can only hope our officials are learning something about containment and being prepared.