We have a flu season every year and people die, you are quite right. But what doesn't happen are the closure of entire cities. That didn't even happen with Swine flu. 

I think there was an element of cover up with this to start with and far more are infected. The incubation period is apparently quite long. It could well be that in the next 7 days this will spiral out of control based on those infected already.

We can always trust you to find a conspiracy theory and believe it.

That's because the flu viruses are already in global circulation and locking down a city would be pointless. This is apparently a new virus and the epicentre appears to be known, therefore trying to contain it via lock-down possibly has merit. However, it seems clear the attempts have not worked. 

The scale of the potential problem: " ...travel restrictions have been expanded to 13 cities - home to more than 36 million people - in Hubei province, the centre of the outbreak. Wuhan, where the outbreak began, is ...home to around 11 million people" [BBC today] More than 800 cases currently confirmed in China. [The current population of the UK is approx 68 million. London has over 8 million people.]

As Brian says, containment was worth trying, but a long shot, and it now looks as if this has not worked. That should not surprise anyone.

You don't need a conspiracy theory to give yourself something to worry about. As I pointed out elsewhere, other factors could make the situation even more risky. e.g. Lock down holds people in households in close proximity, and potentially in proximity to possible reservoir hosts. When I studied this issue in an animal-health context the dangers of host-species cross-infection were being taken very seriously in the light of diseases such as Lassa fever and Rift Valley fever. The dangers could be a lot more complex than simple human to human transmission.

Roger

Here you go - 

https://podtail.com/podcast/the-end-of-the-world-with-josh-clark/ep06-biotechnology/

Happy Friday! 

Btw not saying this virus is an escapee from a biotech lab but when you listen to the experts on this and examine the chances of this happening it's a little worrying. 

Also some very relevant info in terms of the spread of viruses etc.

Yes, but equally we have no information to suggest that this is not anything to worry about and that has been my point.  There is no need to panic but equally no basis for complacency either until we have reasonably accurate data on potency and transmission rates and the ability of the virus to mutate further.

An awful lot of work goes on in the background to ensure we (the world) are able to respond to these outbreaks effectively. It would seem that some here are under the misapprehension that these novel viruses just die out of their own accord; they don't.

Message for Gandalf - as your Inbox is full...

In the event of 'flu - maintain your body fluids - drink lots of water, then:

1 measure of Scotch, one spoonful of honey to taste - drink, repeat until replete.

Roger

p.s. Latest from BBC.

China coronavirus: UK tracing up to 2,000 Wuhan visitors

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51232163

R

Yes,  it isn't in the "heaps 'o' fun" category.  Had 2 doses over the  decades.  No idea where I got the first one from, but the 2nd one was wholly preventable and caused by my cousin NOT cancelling a family get together after one of her kids got the virus.  The little darling vomited in the kitchen sink.  After a hasty "mop up"  food preparation was resumed .  ALL the extended family, including myself got a dose of it - 20 odd people - a 100% infection rate !

It's difficult  to know what end to point in the direction of the "bog".  In the end I  just planted myself permanently on the thing with a bucket on my lap.  It's a draining experience (literately !) but at least it's over in a day or so.

I've had it about 5 or 6 times, most of them when my kids were little. That's something they don't tell you about parenting - expect to get ill a lot.

The worst time was when we were on holiday in the middle of nowhere in county Kerry. Why we chose to go there with a 6 month old baby I don't know! A brilliant place but the memory is tainted somewhat...