The Coronavirus Thread

[Brian Peacock]

The worst strain of bird flu to ever hit North America continues to spread.

...It's spilled over and infected far more types of mammals than previously thought possible since first arriving to the continent in late 2021. This spring, for the first time, it infected dairy cows in nine states, including North Dakota and Michigan. The virus has been found in milk from those infected cows....

[JimC]

A new strain of coronavirus has emerged, more transmissible but probably less dangerous:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-23/ ... /103877328

[Strontium Dog]

How could it be less dangerous than the last few? Does this one bring people back to life?

[JimC]

I simply meant that the infections are, on average, milder, with fewer (but not zero) deaths. However, if it is (as suggested) quicker to spread, we still may see an increase in hospital admissions.

[macdoc]

we are ...

In Queensland, 1,442 people have been diagnosed with COVID in the past week.

Of concern, 47 per cent of people hospitalised with the disease were aged 75 years or olde

COVID cases are rising across Australia. Here's what we know about the new variant: FLiRT
By Hanan Dervisevic
Posted 11h ago

I'm in that category and we are getting our booster on Tuesday. I'm still leery of getting long covid ( I've not had it yet afaik tho I've had my suspicions ). My immune system is not entirely up to snuff after a bad year of broken leg and collar bone, 90 days in recovery and then a prostate operation that was a bit of a bear post op tho the procedure itself was minor in discomfort. Get TURP done when you are younger...I waited too long.

So getting any infection at this point is unwelcome. Thanks to the TURP I no longer take low dose daily a/b so waiting to get my entire immune system stable....now about the exercise


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-24/ ... /103883574

[Brian Peacock]

I simply meant that the infections are, on average, milder, with fewer (but not zero) deaths. However, if it is (as suggested) quicker to spread, we still may see an increase in hospital admissions.

They knew exactly what you meant Jim.

[Sean Hayden]

A lot of people died. It’s pointless arguing with people bent on whistling past the graves.

[Strontium Dog]

61 million people die every year

For those with a passing interest in carrying capacity, that's about half as many as are born

[Brian Peacock]

Why bother treating cancer or infant heart defects - they're only going to end up dead in the end - just like everybody does? Indeed, why worry about violent acts like murder or military conflict - the victims are always going to die at some point anyway.

[Strontium Dog]

I missed the cancer and infant heart defects threads on here, can you point me in the direction to those? I also missed us shutting the economy down for a year because of them.

[Brian Peacock]

OK. So, given that your response was, "61 million people die every year", please explain how COVID deaths are special - if you dare.

[Svartalf]

Covid is just slightly more deadly than common flu strains, let us get used to it and it will become a common flu.

[macdoc]

It's long covid that is the larger threat...there are somethings worse than death. Get your shot.

Vaccinations reduce the risk of long covid

Medical Republic
https://www.medicalrepublic.com.au › vaccinations-red...
23 Nov 2023 — Vaccinations reduce the risk of long covid ... Being up to date with your boosters could cut the chances by three quarters or more, a major Swedish study suggests ...

[pErvinalia]

OK. So, given that your response was, "61 million people die every year", please explain how COVID deaths are special - if you dare.

Because freedum!

[JimC]

mac is right. Although covid seems to be heading in the direction of reduced severity, long covid is a worry - I don't think there is a "long flu"...