The Stranglers' cheery Don't Bring Harry has no sooner finished playing than boom, WHO Chief Tedros tells us that Kung Flu's a pandemic.
"WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction"-@DrTedros #COVID19— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
Day late and a dollar short? Perhaps, but let's pray Italy's not the canary in the viral coalmine. Closer to home, 6 people in the DFW metrosprawl have caught the virus, including an Episcopalian priest figure, Dr. Robert Pace, who caught the ChiCom superbug at a conference in Kentucky for wealthy churches.
That in mind, how long before the Wuhan Virus barrels down I35 to Hill County, Waco and beyond? Hopefully never, but I'd give it about a week. In the meanwhile, there's been a run on bleach and "loo roll" at the local Walmart. Should've bought shares but didn't, foolishly.
You can catch up on the latest Kung Flu news over at Zero, if you're in the mood.
Cheers,
LSP
We're all going to catch it eventually, LSP.
ReplyDeleteIt was just a matter of time...
ReplyDeleteI just grabbed a three pack of Clorox at Costco - not because of the flu, but simply because it was on the shopping list. WallyWorld is plum out of bleach.
ReplyDeleteWe had a false alarm at a local school, but everyone's skittish. But I concur with LL and Old NFO. We'll get it, sooner or later.
ReplyDeleteIf someone in my family needs to be "the one" to die, let it be me. The kids should go on. (Just a message to the man upstairs in case He's paying attention.)
Well, my contacts in the Rat community inform me they are relieved that they are not being blamed this time round. No word from the Bats, but then again you can never hear a word they say.
ReplyDeleteWell, I want to stick around to enjoy 4more years and change of DJT.
ReplyDeleteThere never was a test for the "common" cold, so if we don't know how fast that puppy spreads, why are we so excited about this bad boy? It is more severe in some people, but so is the common cold which chews through nursing homes like a squirrel in your attic chews through your wiring. All I know is that fewer people at Walmart like I saw today makes check out a lot easier.
ReplyDeleteLooks that way, LL. Good thing it's not a hyper deadly bioweapon, eh? Don't fear the Reaper.
ReplyDeleteI know, NFO, and maybe the 'sprawl's going to escape major contagion as the weather hots up? I'm an epidemologist, obvs.
ReplyDeleteRight off the shelves here too, Adrienne. Smart people have a month+ food laid by, to avoid the panic buyers.
ReplyDeleteBut who can blame them? One look at Markle's simpering face is enough to send anyone rushing to the nearest store to stock up on comfort food.
N, I'm sure you and the kids will be fine. Anf hey, you have a well. Smart.
ReplyDeleteSAME HERE, Kid.
ReplyDeleteRight on, Pewster. Let's see how it runs, Italy's the canary.
ReplyDeleteI am less worried about the virus itself, though it's a worry, than I am:
ReplyDelete1. The breakdown of the health care system in general from overload (Aesop's been writing about that a lot)
2. The possible supply-chain dearth of antibiotics and other medications sourced from China / India... as I understand it neither are shipping much of those these days (medical devices / maintenance items in general)
3. Panic when some things DO run out.
We're so used to "I want, I get, now" that if things hiccup, even temporarily, people will go nutso.
As to my well, deep topic - not dry. :) Needs electricity, but I also have a generator and just had the propane tanks refilled proactively. If I can ever afford it I plan to upgrade to a 1000 gallon tank.
I'd just like to know who paid WHO to declare it.
ReplyDeleteAs someone noted, 125,000 cases among 8 billion people really isn't a pandemic and we all know how honest the UN is.
The one thing I do love are the "experts" saying the NBA shouldn't cancel the season, just wait 2 weeks.
You can be a lot of people weren't consulted when the RoundBallers came out with that one.
N, total agreement on points 1-3 -- btw, Calgary's (btw) gone into full panic mode with SIXTEEN, only 16, cases of the virus. Smart people prepped up beforehand to escape this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteSmart move on the propane and what, we ask, makes our society so brittle. Good question, eh?
edutcher, surely it can't be the case that China's got WHO in pocket? I mean, really, how raysist.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which, black rain's been falling on Japan because Chinese crematoria haven't been firing up 24/7 for months.
Don't fear the reaper.
@LSP:
ReplyDeleteRE propane: it was time anyway. Today' I'm picking up 10 5 gallon water bladders. Also, buying two more 5 gal bottles at the hardware store (plus the paint my wife wants). I told the kids "If the power goes out for more than three days then I'm turning the generator OFF. Why?"
The older one: "So that people don't hear it." "That's right. I'll turn it on at 2:30 AM or so, just long enough to get the water tank refilled". Few will be wandering around at that time of night.
I will actually do a post about the local supermarket experience last night. In short: insane. I took pictures. Should have it up about noon.
I was talking with a friend of mine how people are going apesh*t insane to get a week of food just in case.
"Amateurs". :D
Starting to get nuts here, N.
ReplyDeleteI've been telling them to prep up but no one listened. Oh well.
Mene, mene...