Tuesday, 17 March 2020

Is the Coronavirus or the 2019-2020 Flu More Dangerous for US Seniors? — Here are the Numbers

As of Monday afternoon 3-16:
** There have been 4,294 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US
** There have been 75 deaths due to coronavirus in the US
From our report earlier today—

The current estimate for the fatality rates for the coronavirus just don’t add up.  The estimates based on current data are completely inaccurate. Current data shows that this virus is much less deadly that even the common flu from the 2019-2020 season.

Details below:

N/A – not available

So is the coronavirus more deadly for US seniors than the common 2019-2020 flu?

The reports in the media are absolutely frightening for seniors.
The average age for those who died from the coronavirus in Italy is 81 years old.  This is consistent around the world
There have been no known fatalities for any children 10 and under.

So how does this compare to this year’s influenza numbers in the United States?
Similar to the flu, those most at risk of dying from the coronavirus are the elderly and the sick.
In the recent 2016-2017 flu season, via the CDC —  roughly 86% of all influenza-related hospitalizations were of older adults, and adults 65 years of age and older went to the hospital twice as often as all other age groups combined. Historically, older adults have borne the brunt of influenza-related deaths, with 90% of influenza-related deaths occurring in adults 65 years of age and older.

Again, 90% of influenza deaths occur in adults 65-year-old and older!
This is very similar to the numbers we are seeing from the coronavirus.
The US lost 22,000 people in this year’s flu epidemic.
So far the US has lost 86 individuals from the coronavirus.  And at least 29 of those deaths were patients at the Life Center senior center in Kirland, Washington.
So can someone please explain the current pandemic panic?

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