Viral Perspectives – Coronavirus, Covid19, Viral Diseases, Viruses and History of Viruses

Good Day!  We all should learn from history!  Does anything below sound familiar to you?

April 19, 2019, the following statement was reported from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy concerning the impact of the flu virus on the US alone:

1. 1. 1. “In its latest estimates on flu impact today, the CDC said the disease has sickened from 36 million to 41.3 million people this season through Apr 13, of whom 7 million to 19.4 million sought medical care.
      2. In addition, the disease has hospitalized 502,000 to 610,000 patients and killed 34,400 to 57,300.
      3. The estimates of hospitalizations places this season in the same range as the 2012-13, 2014-15, and 2016-17 seasons, all of which were fairly severe. Last season’s year-end (2018) estimates neared 1 million flu-related hospitalizations.” https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2019/04/us-flu-still-elevated-dropping-deaths-high-57000
      4. More people died last year of the flu having a flu vaccine than people who have died of Covid-19 without a vaccine in the US.

The Spanish Flu, 1918-1919 hit almost exactly 100 years ago:

1. 1. 1. The Spanish flu, named because it was thought to originate in Spain, was later thought to originate in either France, China, Britain or US. A definitive conclusion as to its origins has never been elucidated.
      2. Over 18 months the virus infected over 40 % of the global population killing an estimated 20 million to 50 million people, more than world war I.
      3. People died of pneumonia, later to be known as “cytokine explosion”.
      4. Amid climbing infection rates, a Liberty Loan Parade to raise millions of dollars in war funds, was still held in Philidelphia. Six days after the parade, hospitals were filled and 1600 people had died. Similar to the aftermath of mardi Gras in Louisiana.
      5. Lack of quarantines allowed the flu to spread and grow
      6. San Francisco felt it was the patriotic duty of every American to wear a mask and were fined if they were not. Being made of gauze, the masks were not effective at all.
      7. 195,000 Americans died from the Spanish flu in just the month of October!
      8. Unlike a normal seasonal flu, which mostly claims victims among the very young and very old, the second wave of the Spanish flu exhibited what’s called a “W curve”—high numbers of deaths among the young and old, but also a huge spike in the otherwise healthy 25- to 35-year-olds in the prime of their life.
      9. Interestingly, the 5–14 age group accounted for a large fraction of 1918 influenza cases, but had extremely low mortality.
      10. The sequence of one part of the virus did not match any previously sequenced influenza virus strains.
      11. The virus may have been sensitive to the anti-viral drug amantadine. https://www.history.com/news/why-was-it-called-the-spanish-flu

The plague of 1576:

1. 1. 1. Killed 45,000 in Venice alone. However Ferrara, Italy had not one death!
      2. Critical to Ferrara’s success were border controls stopping anyone from entering the city except those that carried with them papers stating they came from a plague-free zone and screened for any signs of disease, These controls were based on the new theory of “contagion”.
      3. Sanitary laws were strict as was personal hygiene. In the Am , they applied Composito, an oily balm to the throat and chest made from myrrh, crocus sativus, and venom of scorpions and vipers. fluhttps://www.history.com/news/plague-italy-public-health-ferrara

The treatments are food for thought.  Certainly in present time, people are reaching for whatever may help protect them from the virus, as evidenced by lack of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc on store shelves.  Maybe we should try scorpion or snake venom for the cure?!  Did you know Cobra venom has already been proven to fight Herpes. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.535.4993&rep=rep1&type=pdf

More people died last year of the flu having a flu vaccine than people who have died of Covid-19 without a vaccine in the US.

• RMC has Covid 19 antibody test kits for whoever wants them. They don’t have to be patient of RMC.
• Lastly and most importantly to me, Watch the sitcom ‘Blackish’ April 28 Tuesday at 9:30 PM EST on ABC.  My daughter Lizzie Donaldson wrote it!!  I’m very proud of her.

Have an awesome day!   Dr.  D