argh! said:
... Again, there are many types of chemists, including biochemists and medicinal chemists, who frequently synthesize an agent that works at a previously discovered site. just let us know what type of chemist you are, that will shut me up.
Have no desire to shut you up ... I'm interested in the core problem of the outbreak. So as I see it, the main issue here is
not my competence to comment on issues related to the virus outbreak. Right along, I have simply copied here information that had been posted by the CDC, or was based on data from that body (i.e., the NY
Times article).
Anyone, scientifically trained or not, could have done that if they were interested and knew where to look. Goldeneagle chose to attack the messenger and discount the message. The message: Experts -- the CDC -- did
not issue what any reasonable person would consider an "alarm" about the problem, right up to the point, and beyond, where the WHO declared the "global health emergency" on January 30.
(Aside: No, my specialty is not health-related. However, as a college instructor (with my Ph.D.), I taught many -- several hundred -- students pursuing pre-med and pharmaceutical degrees, with lectures including the development background of many health-related advances.)
To continue the prime message, BTW: According to the CDC postings, new guidelines were issued right after the China travel ban ... but the document has since been updated, so one cannot tell exactly what it said originally. Here's that link:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/clinical-criteria.html
The CDC issued another document about the virus on February 7, posting it online “as an MMWR Early Release”:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6906e1.htm?s_cid=mm6906e1_x
The release included the following in its summary:
What are the implications for public health practice?
Health care providers should remain vigilant regarding possible 2019-nCoV exposure not only among returning travelers, but also among persons in close contact with 2019-nCoV patients in the United States.
I'd call advice to "remain vigilant" pretty low key, suggesting (my opinion) that they still didn't have a good handle on what they were dealing with.
The CDC issued another MMWR update on February 25:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6908e1.htm
Here’s a quote from that posting:
Discussion
COVID-19 is a serious public health threat. Cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in the United States, primarily in travelers from China and quarantined repatriates, and also in two close contacts of COVID-19 patients. Currently, COVID-19 is not recognized to be spreading in U.S. communities. If sustained transmission in U.S. communities is identified, the U.S. response strategy will enhance implementation of actions to slow spread in communities (2,6). Implementation of basic precautions of infection control and prevention, including staying home when ill and practicing respiratory and hand hygiene will become increasingly important.
You can make what you want of this CDC-provided information. To repeat, this is not about my expertise in health related matters. This is what
any interested citizen could learn by actually following what the experts with the prime responsibility were saying and doing … less than three weeks ago.