healthimpactnews--2020-03-18--Alliance for Natural Health Special Report: COVID19 – Fearmongering Born out of Uncertainty

By Rob Verkerk PhD , founder , executive and scientific director Alliance for Natural Health International Coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2 , that causes COVID-19 or just plain old ‘ coronavirus ’ – call it what you like – has taken the world by storm .
Humans in every corner of the globe are coming together to ostensibly minimise human tragedy , suffering and hardship linked to the severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the new circulating virus .
Unwittingly , some of these efforts might actually cause harms they ’ re intending to prevent .
Governments , corporations , transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sporting sectors – mostly everyone – have accepted that in the absence of a silver , pharmaceutical bullet against this novel viral infective agent , we must accept the cost of the economic impacts caused by our efforts in trying to contain and control transmission .
One positive outcome of the outbreak is the sense of cooperation that has been enabled .
Citizens , regardless of geographic borders or background , can contribute , in the words of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , the Director General of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and corporations got enough information and context to be making the decisions they are making , often on our behalf ?
What are we not being told that we should be told ?
Many healthcare professionals working in the natural health or integrative medicine sectors with whom we ’ ve spoken over the last month or so , like us , feel that context has been sorely missing in the public dialogue on the coronavirus outbreak .
As has been comprehensive and relevant advice , especially for older people who are more susceptible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see our separate piece on natural immune support ) in the event of infection .
In this special report , released the day after the WHO upgraded the outbreak ’ s status from epidemic to pandemic , I have attempted to highlight some of the anomalies and problems around the publicly available information , and , just as importantly , identify where key data gaps lie .
We hope you ’ ll find it provides some additional and helpful context to the information that ’ s being delivered by the mainstream media .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want to gen up on some basics , albeit from a largely scientific perspective , the following links give you something of a starting point : • Comparison of COVID-19 and flu by Johns Hopkins • Epidemiology and pathogenesis of the COVID-19 outbreak • Our World in Data – looking at the numbers behind the outbreak If you already need some light relief , here ’ s a couple of tidbits of trivia : • Coronaviruses get their name from the Latin word ‘ corona ’ , which means ‘ crown ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at them through a 2D transmission electron microscope you see what looks something like a crown comprised of the club-shaped spikes that cover the surface around the virus particles • Did you know that around 20 % of all instances of the common cold are caused by coronaviruses ?
Unsurprising therefore that most of the symptoms of COVID-19 are something like a common cold • There ’ s nothing new about this family of viruses that have co-existed with animals and humans for millennia .
This one is called novel because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been found in humans .
No one can be sure about the origins of the virus , but among the more supported theories is that it jumped from bats to pangolins to humans , where it turned up in the wet market of Wuhan in the Hubei province of China .
While the origins remain unclear , there are of course fertile grounds for conspiracy theories .
Among them was a view expressed by former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad , who sent a letter to the United Nations stating the virus was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintaining [ the ] political and economic upper hand in the global arena.
” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the WHO referred to a “ sombre moment ” as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passed 100,000 in 100 countries over the weekend .
As of yesterday , based on data from Johns Hopkins ’ COVID-19 tracker , 87 % of cases so far have occurred in just 4 countries ( China , Italy , Iran and Korea ; see Category 1 countries/areas ) .
According to the WHO , of the 80,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have already fully recovered .
Context by comparison with other infectious diseases One way of getting context on COVID-19 is to compare the rate of contagiousness ( the average basic reproduction number ( R ) which is the number of people one person will likely infect ) with the case fatality rate ( CFR ) , against other important infectious diseases .
This way of looking at the infection makes sense because the COVID-19 outbreak is so recent , while other infectious agents like seasonal flu ( caused mostly by influenza A/H1N1 viruses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A/H1N1pdm09 ) have been circulating considerably longer .
One such comparison has been carried out through an interactive graphic called the MicrobeScope ( see below ) on the Information is Beautiful website .
You ’ ll see data for COVID-19 sitting in the bottom left corner , with moderate contagiousness and relatively low fatality rate ( presently around 1-2 % of those infected ) .
It ’ s somewhat higher in Italy ( 5 % ) , probably because many of those infected have been elderly with comorbidities ( heart disease , diabetes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are therefore more susceptible .
You ’ ll also see , so far , SARS-CoV-2 appears very much less contagious than the mosquito vectored diseases , malaria or dengue fever .
It is also much less deadly than tuberculosis , Ebola , meningitis or bird flu , while being slightly more deadly – based on just the first 10 weeks of available data – than seasonal flu .
We also need to keep the numbers infected so far in context with those affected by other infectious diseases .
Following is a comparison of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bearing in mind COVID-19 has reportedly only been circulating for a little over two months : *COVID-19 cases only from 31 December 2019 to 10 March 2020 .
Other coronaviruses that caused huge public disturbances , albeit in more geographically limited areas , namely China and the Middle East , were the SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) and MERS ( Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ) epidemics of 2002 and 2012 , respectively .
SARS caused just over 8,000 deaths and had a fatality rate of nearly 10 % as against MERS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , amounting to 34 % fatality rate .
These figures demonstrate just how many more people are being affected by COVID-19 , but relatively , how much less harmful it appears to be too .
That ’ s not something the mainstream media often reports in its bid to fearmonger .
Another good way of estimating infection potential is to look at the doubling rate .
Here , for ease , I suggest you look at data collated from official WHO figures by Australian investment guru , Damien Klassen on the website Nucleuswealth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re wanting people to invest that you know how a virus like COVID-19 can change market values .
Looked at this way , things don ’ t presently look optimistic in South Korea , Italy and Iran .
The trouble is , these bald numbers tell us only a part of the picture .
They can also be misleading .
When trying to size up the nature of the threat caused by the infectious agents and what priorities you should give to containment and mitigation , you really need solid answers to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the age , gender and location of those who ’ ve died , how many people are infected ( including those with and without symptoms ) , how long it took them to die after infection , did the infection really cause the death or was it just associated with it , what was the lag time between infection and death , what is the reproductive rate of the agent and does this change with time , what was the person ’ s health status at the time of infection regardless of outcomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any symptoms….I could go on .
There is data on only some of these parameters .
Even less of it is in the public domain .
When you look at the daily stats of escalating infection rates , they tell you nothing about whether lots of these people are recovering from mild symptoms of disease , or were they dying slow , painful deaths in an ICU ?
Or were they at home or in remote rural areas where they couldn ’ t gain access to medical care ?
What degree of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being supplied to the WHO ?
Again , as Damien Klassen suggests , some data can be trusted less than others .
And just how many people out there would be positive if sampled and tested , but they haven ’ t been tested because they have no symptoms ?
Take the case of the cruise ship , the Diamond Princess that was docked in Yokohama , Japan .
A whopping 52 % of the 621 confirmed cases onboard ( 322 ) were found to be asymptomatic – according to Japan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the laboratory tests being used rock solid , meaning do all positive tests mean the virus is present , and vice versa ?
Back to the Diamond Princess , why did one women test negative during the two weeks of testing while under quarantine on the boat , only to then be found positive when she returned home in Japan ?
A similar discovery was subsequently made in the cases of two Australian men .
As you delve into what little is known , and note the mass of information that isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that is at odds with the more definitive viewpoints underpinning public health policy that are being blasted at us daily across the airwaves .
The likely high ( unknown ) numbers of unreported cases of infection in part explains why Dr Anthony Fauci , the head of the NIH ’ s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said in his co-written editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine published on 28 February 2020 that “ the case fatality rate may be considerably less than 1 % ” .
Remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the H5N1 virus – or should we say , the human immune reaction to it ?
At its most virulent , the risk of transmission remained low , relative to many other infectious diseases .
The WHO data estimates that the H5N1 avian influenza has killed 53 % of those infected between 2003 and 2020 , the majority of cases being in just 3 countries , namely Egypt , Indonesia and Vietnam .
However , re-analysis of available data shows that the rate might be closer to 14-33 % .
This change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study authors to 3 things : 1 ) many asymptomatic and mild cases might go unreported , 2 ) there is common under-reporting by some countries for political reasons , and 3 ) the virulence , in common with many viral infections , declines over time .
All of these concerns apply to COVID-19 .
A Chinese study published in The Lancet compared those infected by the novel avian influenza ( A/H7N9 ) which broke out in China in 2013 and the more lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus .
It looked at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among other things .
It revealed that the median age of those infected was 62 years for H7N9 and just 26 years for H5N1 .
In both cases , most of those infected ( 71-75 % ) were exposed to poultry .
In Italy , which has seen the highest rate of infection outside of China , the average age of death reported by the country ’ s national health institute was reported as 81 , the majority with underlying health problems and 72 % being men .
The WHO continues to uphold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prof Neil Ferguson and his team at Imperial College London estimate the case fatality rate ( CFR ) at half this value , 1 % which is close to another assessment by a group of New Zealand experts of a CFR of 1.4 % for COVID-19 cases outside China .
But there are problems with all of these estimates .
Most of the data we see in peer reviewed papers , being issued by governments and health authorities and in the media are based on confirmed cases provided by national governments to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has at least been the matching of viral material taken from nose and throat swabsusing real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction ( rRT-PCR ) .
Being at the early stage of the outbreak , there are limited data on what is happening at a given period in time .
For example , if it takes a susceptible person 4 weeks to die following infection , your case-fatality data will be out of step with your infectivity data , being one month behind .
The problem is exacerbated further if you have a relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on incubation have been put forward , a study just published by Johns Hopkins suggests around a 5-day incubation , which is somewhat shorter than many had previously believed .
However , the study also shows that 97.5 % of those infected will show symptoms after 11.5 days , while around 1 in 100 will still likely develop symptoms after 14 days of active monitoring or quarantine .
Given the infection capacity of COVID-19 and these figures , it ’ s not hard to see how easily the virus can spread exponentially .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ us by COVID-19 .
The more humans enact containment and social isolation policies in an effort to slow down the contagion of the virus , the less at risk are the most vulnerable members of our society .
But also , the greater is the economic impact .
The sheer scale of infection makes it a problem .
SARS had a significantly higher case fatality rate , but much lower rates of infection .
It killed only 813 people in total but caused a 2 % fall in GDP in China where all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the threat is matched by the size of pledges .
The “ international community ” has asked for US $ 675 million to help protect states with weaker health systems as part of the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan .
The Gates Foundation have launched funding to identify COVID-19 treatments in conjunction with Wellcome and Mastercard , with US $ 125 million being made available .
The UN has released US $ 15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund ( CERF ) to help fund global efforts to contain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into insignificance when you look at the potential impacts on certain industries and economies .
One sector that will be hit particularly hard by shutdowns and social isolation policies is the airline industry .
The International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) suggests that as much as US $ 113 billion might be lost by the airline industry in 2020 alone .
While it might be better for the environment , it ’ s not good for those who benefit from the services provided by the airline industry in linking up the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , SARS cost the world US $ 40 billion in 6 months .
How much more will COVID-19 cost ?
No drugs have been proven effective against the virus .
A vaccine is being developed , but Dr. Anthony Fauci ( National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ) said it will likely take 12 months before a vaccine is ready for the public , having clashed with US President Donald Trump who said he wanted the vaccine ready in just 2 months .
Gilead Science ’ s remdesivir is an antiviral drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found use against infections by Marburg and other RNA-stranded viruses .
It is currently being trialled in China .
It was administered to a US patient on “ compassionate grounds ” and the patient , whose condition was worsening prior to the drug being given , recovered quickly .
There is a significant risk that mutations by SARS-CoV-2 could lead to resistance to antiviral agents if they were to be used at scale , as occurred with neuraminidase inhibitors like oseltamivir ( Tamiflu® ) used against seasonal A ( H1N1 ) viral infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donnely ( Imperial College London , MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis ) on current status of COVID-19 , containment , and non-pharmaceutical interventions IMPORTANT NOTICE The information below is for informational and educational purposes only , and should not be construed as medical advice .
If you are experiencing any symptoms of illness , or consider that you might have been exposed to the coronavirus , follow the advice of your health authority [ the UK ’ s NHS advice is fairly detailed and useful wherever you may live ] .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and avoiding close contact with other people .
Do not go to a GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital and , in the UK , use the NHS 111 coronavirus service to get advice on what to do .
As SARS-CoV-2 is another coronavirus , similar to the type that causes 20 % of cases of common cold , the same basic hygiene and sanitation requirements apply and , apart from making sure your immune system is in peak condition to deal with any threats , is your best form of prevention .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact .
So , following the CDC non-pharmaceutical advisory makes a lot of sense : • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds , and help young children do the same .
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze , then throw the tissue in the trash .
• Avoid touching your eyes , nose , and mouth with unwashed hands .
• Avoid close contact , such as kissing , or sharing cups or eating utensils , with sick people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as toys and doorknobs .
Add to that the NHS guidance , which has only two items in common with the CDC advice ( see brackets ) : • always wash your hands when you get home or into work • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available • put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards • try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell The don ’ ts are clearly spelled out by the NHS : “ do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mouth if your hands are not clean.
” So there ’ s a real possibility that if you use a disposable mask , especially a next-to-useless dust mask , you ’ ll increase , not decrease your risk of infection .
Taking this advice from the CDC and NHS into account , as well as the overall picture of the threat both from infection and from our efforts to mitigate infection , it ’ s not difficult to consider many reactions to COVID-19 as an over-reaction .
OK – if we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the over-70s in a country or region with known infection by the virus , stop the meeting .
Some golf clubs and Bingo halls might be affected , but it won ’ t bring economies to a standstill .
Otherwise , let people get on with their lives , cognisant of the hygiene and sanitation measures .
We must also demand more transparency in the reporting .
So keep an eye on the stats , and we ’ re finding there ’ s more relevant data delivered daily by Worldometer than there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the data so far suggest to us is that the vast majority of people ( > 97 % ) will be fine , even with infection .
Most people will at most have mild symptoms that are not very different from the closely related common cold .
Efforts should be made , just as is the case routinely with flu , to in particular protect the most vulnerable groups , especially older people with underlying conditions .
Doing a lot more than all of this right now looks to us like the product @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has now achieved pandemic status .
That label generates fear .
Yet the decision is based on geography , not biology .
So while some estimates suggest two-thirds of the global population will become infected , for many this might just involve a ‘ sniffle and a tickle ’ – or be entirely without symptoms .
As stated by the WHO ’ s Director-General , Tedros Ghebreyesus , “ it would be the first pandemic in history that could be controlled.
” More importantly , this could be achieved largely without pharmaceuticals or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and control .
The way things are currently looking , in our view , the biggest cost of the pandemic will not be through suffering and illness .
It will be economic .
In order to reduce this impact , employers , event managers , transportation companies , health authorities and all those responsible for how those they communicate with behave , need to think things threw very carefully , before knee-jerking .
I was invited to speak at two major conferences next week in London .
One has been cancelled ( today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of writing ) is going ahead .
I am impressed with the lead taken by William Reed Business Media Ltd , the publisher of Food Navigator and NutraIngredients , for persevering with the Global CBD Summit and publishing coronavirus safety measures on the website .
I found myself resonating with the commentary in the BMJ offered by Dr Peter Gøtzsche , expelled co-founder of the Cochrane Collaboration and founder of the Institute for Scientific Freedom in Copenhagen .
So , let ’ s finish with Dr Gøtzsche ’ s words as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ victims of mass panic ” .

ANH-Intl Special Report: COVID-19 – fearmongering born out of uncertainty
By Rob Verkerk PhD, founder, executive and scientific director
Alliance for Natural Health International
Coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2, that causes COVID-19 or just plain old ‘coronavirus’ – call it what you like – has taken the world by storm. Humans in every corner of the globe are coming together to ostensibly minimise human tragedy, suffering and hardship linked to the severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the new circulating virus. Unwittingly, some of these efforts might actually cause harms they’re intending to prevent. Governments, corporations, transportation companies, schools, the entertainment and sporting sectors – mostly everyone – have accepted that in the absence of a silver, pharmaceutical bullet against this novel viral infective agent, we must accept the cost of the economic impacts caused by our efforts in trying to contain and control transmission.
One positive outcome of the outbreak is the sense of cooperation that has been enabled. Citizens, regardless of geographic borders or background, can contribute, in the words of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO),
“to protect themselves, to protect others, whether in the home, the community, the healthcare system, the workplace or the transport system.”
But have health authorities, governments and corporations got enough information and context to be making the decisions they are making, often on our behalf? What are we not being told that we should be told?
Many healthcare professionals working in the natural health or integrative medicine sectors with whom we’ve spoken over the last month or so, like us, feel that context has been sorely missing in the public dialogue on the coronavirus outbreak. As has been comprehensive and relevant advice, especially for older people who are more susceptible, on supporting the immune system (see our separate piece on natural immune support) in the event of infection.
In this special report, released the day after the WHO upgraded the outbreak’s status from epidemic to pandemic, I have attempted to highlight some of the anomalies and problems around the publicly available information, and, just as importantly, identify where key data gaps lie. We hope you’ll find it provides some additional and helpful context to the information that’s being delivered by the mainstream media.
Before we kick off proper, if you want to gen up on some basics, albeit from a largely scientific perspective, the following links give you something of a starting point:
If you already need some light relief, here’s a couple of tidbits of trivia:
Coronaviruses get their name from the Latin word ‘corona’, which means ‘crown’ or ‘halo’. When you look at them through a 2D transmission electron microscope you see what looks something like a crown comprised of the club-shaped spikes that cover the surface around the virus particles
Did you know that around 20% of all instances of the common cold are caused by coronaviruses? Unsurprising therefore that most of the symptoms of COVID-19 are something like a common cold
There’s nothing new about this family of viruses that have co-existed with animals and humans for millennia. This one is called novel because it’s the first time it’s been found in humans. No one can be sure about the origins of the virus, but among the more supported theories is that it jumped from bats to pangolins to humans, where it turned up in the wet market of Wuhan in the Hubei province of China. While the origins remain unclear, there are of course fertile grounds for conspiracy theories. Among them was a view expressed by former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who sent a letter to the United Nations stating the virus was “a new weapon for establishing and/or maintaining [the] political and economic upper hand in the global arena.”
WHO said?
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the WHO referred to a “sombre moment” as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passed 100,000 in 100 countries over the weekend.
As of yesterday, based on data from Johns Hopkins’ COVID-19 tracker, 87% of cases so far have occurred in just 4 countries (China, Italy, Iran and Korea; see Category 1 countries/areas).
According to the WHO, of the 80,000 reported cases in China, 70% have already fully recovered.
Context by comparison with other infectious diseases
One way of getting context on COVID-19 is to compare the rate of contagiousness (the average basic reproduction number (R 0 ) which is the number of people one person will likely infect) with the case fatality rate (CFR), against other important infectious diseases. This way of looking at the infection makes sense because the COVID-19 outbreak is so recent, while other infectious agents like seasonal flu (caused mostly by influenza A/H1N1 viruses) or ‘swine flu’ (A/H1N1pdm09) have been circulating considerably longer.
One such comparison has been carried out through an interactive graphic called the MicrobeScope (see below) on the Information is Beautiful website. You’ll see data for COVID-19 sitting in the bottom left corner, with moderate contagiousness and relatively low fatality rate (presently around 1-2% of those infected). It’s somewhat higher in Italy (5%), probably because many of those infected have been elderly with comorbidities (heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc.) so are therefore more susceptible.
You’ll also see, so far, SARS-CoV-2 appears very much less contagious than the mosquito vectored diseases, malaria or dengue fever. It is also much less deadly than tuberculosis, Ebola, meningitis or bird flu, while being slightly more deadly – based on just the first 10 weeks of available data – than seasonal flu.
Link to interactive version of MicrobeScope.
We also need to keep the numbers infected so far in context with those affected by other infectious diseases. Following is a comparison of COVID-19 with 4 other infectious diseases, bearing in mind COVID-19 has reportedly only been circulating for a little over two months:
*COVID-19 cases only from 31 December 2019 to 10 March 2020.
Other coronaviruses that caused huge public disturbances, albeit in more geographically limited areas, namely China and the Middle East, were the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) epidemics of 2002 and 2012, respectively. SARS caused just over 8,000 deaths and had a fatality rate of nearly 10% as against MERS with around 2,500 causes and 834 deaths, amounting to 34% fatality rate. These figures demonstrate just how many more people are being affected by COVID-19, but relatively, how much less harmful it appears to be too. That’s not something the mainstream media often reports in its bid to fearmonger.
Another good way of estimating infection potential is to look at the doubling rate.
Here, for ease, I suggest you look at data collated from official WHO figures by Australian investment guru, Damien Klassen on the website Nucleuswealth. It makes sense if you’re wanting people to invest that you know how a virus like COVID-19 can change market values. Looked at this way, things don’t presently look optimistic in South Korea, Italy and Iran.
Health threat
The trouble is, these bald numbers tell us only a part of the picture. They can also be misleading. When trying to size up the nature of the threat caused by the infectious agents and what priorities you should give to containment and mitigation, you really need solid answers to a lot of questions. These include knowing the age, gender and location of those who’ve died, how many people are infected (including those with and without symptoms), how long it took them to die after infection, did the infection really cause the death or was it just associated with it, what was the lag time between infection and death, what is the reproductive rate of the agent and does this change with time, what was the person’s health status at the time of infection regardless of outcomes, what was the nature and severity of any symptoms….I could go on.
There is data on only some of these parameters. Even less of it is in the public domain.
When you look at the daily stats of escalating infection rates, they tell you nothing about whether lots of these people are recovering from mild symptoms of disease, or were they dying slow, painful deaths in an ICU? Or were they at home or in remote rural areas where they couldn’t gain access to medical care?
What degree of trust can you put in official data being supplied to the WHO? Again, as Damien Klassen suggests, some data can be trusted less than others.
And just how many people out there would be positive if sampled and tested, but they haven’t been tested because they have no symptoms? Take the case of the cruise ship, the Diamond Princess that was docked in Yokohama, Japan. A whopping 52% of the 621 confirmed cases onboard (322) were found to be asymptomatic – according to Japan’s Ministry of Health.
Also, are the laboratory tests being used rock solid, meaning do all positive tests mean the virus is present, and vice versa? Back to the Diamond Princess, why did one women test negative during the two weeks of testing while under quarantine on the boat, only to then be found positive when she returned home in Japan? A similar discovery was subsequently made in the cases of two Australian men.
As you delve into what little is known, and note the mass of information that isn’t, an interesting story emerges, one that is at odds with the more definitive viewpoints underpinning public health policy that are being blasted at us daily across the airwaves.
The likely high (unknown) numbers of unreported cases of infection in part explains why Dr Anthony Fauci, the head of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in his co-written editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine published on 28 February 2020 that “the case fatality rate may be considerably less than 1%”.
Remember the bird flu pandemic of 2007 caused by the H5N1 virus – or should we say, the human immune reaction to it? At its most virulent, the risk of transmission remained low, relative to many other infectious diseases. The WHO data estimates that the H5N1 avian influenza has killed 53% of those infected between 2003 and 2020, the majority of cases being in just 3 countries, namely Egypt, Indonesia and Vietnam.
However, re-analysis of available data shows that the rate might be closer to 14-33%. This change in fatality rate was linked by the study authors to 3 things: 1) many asymptomatic and mild cases might go unreported, 2) there is common under-reporting by some countries for political reasons, and 3) the virulence, in common with many viral infections, declines over time. All of these concerns apply to COVID-19.
A Chinese study published in The Lancet compared those infected by the novel avian influenza (A/H7N9) which broke out in China in 2013 and the more lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus. It looked at the location and age of infected individuals, among other things. It revealed that the median age of those infected was 62 years for H7N9 and just 26 years for H5N1. In both cases, most of those infected (71-75%) were exposed to poultry.
In Italy, which has seen the highest rate of infection outside of China, the average age of death reported by the country’s national health institute was reported as 81, the majority with underlying health problems and 72% being men.
The WHO continues to uphold the 2% case fatality rate. Prof Neil Ferguson and his team at Imperial College London estimate the case fatality rate (CFR) at half this value, 1% which is close to another assessment by a group of New Zealand experts of a CFR of 1.4% for COVID-19 cases outside China.
But there are problems with all of these estimates. Most of the data we see in peer reviewed papers, being issued by governments and health authorities and in the media are based on confirmed cases provided by national governments to the WHO. This involves cases where there has at least been the matching of viral material taken from nose and throat swabsusing real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR).
Being at the early stage of the outbreak, there are limited data on what is happening at a given period in time. For example, if it takes a susceptible person 4 weeks to die following infection, your case-fatality data will be out of step with your infectivity data, being one month behind. The problem is exacerbated further if you have a relatively long incubation time. While varying views on incubation have been put forward, a study just published by Johns Hopkins suggests around a 5-day incubation, which is somewhat shorter than many had previously believed. However, the study also shows that 97.5% of those infected will show symptoms after 11.5 days, while around 1 in 100 will still likely develop symptoms after 14 days of active monitoring or quarantine. Given the infection capacity of COVID-19 and these figures, it’s not hard to see how easily the virus can spread exponentially.
Economic threat
Herein lies the double-edge sword delivered to us by COVID-19. The more humans enact containment and social isolation policies in an effort to slow down the contagion of the virus, the less at risk are the most vulnerable members of our society. But also, the greater is the economic impact. The sheer scale of infection makes it a problem.
SARS had a significantly higher case fatality rate, but much lower rates of infection. It killed only 813 people in total but caused a 2% fall in GDP in China where all but two cases occurred.
The scale of the threat is matched by the size of pledges. The “international community” has asked for US$675 million to help protect states with weaker health systems as part of the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.
The Gates Foundation have launched funding to identify COVID-19 treatments in conjunction with Wellcome and Mastercard, with US$125 million being made available.
The UN has released US$15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help fund global efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus.
But all this pales into insignificance when you look at the potential impacts on certain industries and economies. One sector that will be hit particularly hard by shutdowns and social isolation policies is the airline industry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) suggests that as much as US$113 billion might be lost by the airline industry in 2020 alone. While it might be better for the environment, it’s not good for those who benefit from the services provided by the airline industry in linking up the world’s economies.
Back in 2003, SARS cost the world US$40 billion in 6 months. How much more will COVID-19 cost?
Pharma solutions in the pipeline?
No drugs have been proven effective against the virus.
A vaccine is being developed, but Dr. Anthony Fauci (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) said it will likely take 12 months before a vaccine is ready for the public, having clashed with US President Donald Trump who said he wanted the vaccine ready in just 2 months.
Gilead Science’s remdesivir is an antiviral drug originally developed against Ebola, which has found use against infections by Marburg and other RNA-stranded viruses. It is currently being trialled in China. It was administered to a US patient on “compassionate grounds” and the patient, whose condition was worsening prior to the drug being given, recovered quickly.
There is a significant risk that mutations by SARS-CoV-2 could lead to resistance to antiviral agents if they were to be used at scale, as occurred with neuraminidase inhibitors like oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) used against seasonal A(H1N1) viral infections.
Useful videos
Prof Neil Ferguson and Prof Christl Donnely (Imperial College London, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis) on current status of COVID-19, containment, and non-pharmaceutical interventions
Dr Seema Yasmin on COVID-19, personal protection and pandemics
Do’s and Don’ts
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The information below is for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical advice. If you are experiencing any symptoms of illness, or consider that you might have been exposed to the coronavirus, follow the advice of your health authority [the UK’s NHS advice is fairly detailed and useful wherever you may live]. This will typically mean staying at home and avoiding close contact with other people. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital and, in the UK, use the NHS 111 coronavirus service to get advice on what to do.
As SARS-CoV-2 is another coronavirus, similar to the type that causes 20% of cases of common cold, the same basic hygiene and sanitation requirements apply and, apart from making sure your immune system is in peak condition to deal with any threats, is your best form of prevention.
The virus is transmitted by droplets or contact.
So, following the CDC non-pharmaceutical advisory makes a lot of sense:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact, such as kissing, or sharing cups or eating utensils, with sick people.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.
Add to that the NHS guidance, which has only two items in common with the CDC advice (see brackets):
(wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds)
always wash your hands when you get home or into work
use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
(cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze)
put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
The don’ts are clearly spelled out by the NHS: “do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.” So there’s a real possibility that if you use a disposable mask, especially a next-to-useless dust mask, you’ll increase, not decrease your risk of infection.
Taking this advice from the CDC and NHS into account, as well as the overall picture of the threat both from infection and from our efforts to mitigate infection, it’s not difficult to consider many reactions to COVID-19 as an over-reaction.
OK – if we’re talking about a very large public meeting for the over-70s in a country or region with known infection by the virus, stop the meeting. Some golf clubs and Bingo halls might be affected, but it won’t bring economies to a standstill. Otherwise, let people get on with their lives, cognisant of the hygiene and sanitation measures. We must also demand more transparency in the reporting.
So keep an eye on the stats, and we’re finding there’s more relevant data delivered daily by Worldometer than there is by the WHO itself.
What the data so far suggest to us is that the vast majority of people (>97%) will be fine, even with infection. Most people will at most have mild symptoms that are not very different from the closely related common cold. Efforts should be made, just as is the case routinely with flu, to in particular protect the most vulnerable groups, especially older people with underlying conditions.
Doing a lot more than all of this right now looks to us like the product of fertile minds and fear-mongering.
Conclusions
COVID-19 has now achieved pandemic status. That label generates fear. Yet the decision is based on geography, not biology. So while some estimates suggest two-thirds of the global population will become infected, for many this might just involve a ‘sniffle and a tickle’ – or be entirely without symptoms.
As stated by the WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, “it would be the first pandemic in history that could be controlled.” More importantly, this could be achieved largely without pharmaceuticals or vaccines – just human cooperation around containment and control.
The way things are currently looking, in our view, the biggest cost of the pandemic will not be through suffering and illness. It will be economic. In order to reduce this impact, employers, event managers, transportation companies, health authorities and all those responsible for how those they communicate with behave, need to think things threw very carefully, before knee-jerking.
I was invited to speak at two major conferences next week in London. One has been cancelled (today), the other (at the time of writing) is going ahead. I am impressed with the lead taken by William Reed Business Media Ltd, the publisher of Food Navigator and NutraIngredients, for persevering with the Global CBD Summit and publishing coronavirus safety measures on the website.
I found myself resonating with the commentary in the BMJ offered by Dr Peter Gøtzsche, expelled co-founder of the Cochrane Collaboration and founder of the Institute for Scientific Freedom in Copenhagen. So, let’s finish with Dr Gøtzsche’s words as he explores the notion of us being potential “victims of mass panic”.
He asks:
“Why all the panic? Is it evidence-based healthcare to close schools and universities, cancel flights and meetings, forbid travel, and to isolate people wherever they happen to fall ill? In Denmark, the government recommends cancellation of events with over 1000 participants. When some organisers crept just below 1000, they were attacked by professors in virology and microbiology. But if it is wrong to invite 990 people, it should also be wrong to invite 980, and so forth. Where does this stop? And should big shopping centres be closed, too?”
Read the full article at ANHInternational.org


healthimpactnews--2020-03-19--Ozone Treatment: A Real Remedy for the Coronavirus Panic

by Robert Jay Rowen , MD1 , and Howard Robins , DPM Journal of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Many viruses @ @ @ @ @ cell fusion and entry .
Corona viruses , including SARS-CoV-2 ( the cause of the @ @ @ @ @ 2019 or COVID-19 ) , are rich in cysteine , which residues must be intact @ @ @ @ @ groups are vulnerable to oxidation .
Ozone therapy , a very inexpensive and safe modality @ @ @ @ @ vulnerability in many viruses , inclusive of SARS-CoV-2 .
Does Coronavirus have a soft “ @ @ @ @ @ to a simple treatment ?
As I write this , the world is in a @ @ @ @ @ news reports and government lock downs across the globe over the spreading COVID-19 disease , @ @ @ @ @ ” strain of coronavirus ( now termed SARS-CoV-2 ) .
Tragically , what the news @ @ @ @ @ that you have the means to protect yourself and your loved ones with a “ @ @ @ @ @ do at home .

A Plausible “Penny” Costing Effective Treatment for Corona Virus – Ozone Therapy
by Robert Jay Rowen, MD1, and Howard Robins, DPM
Journal of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology
Abstract
Many viruses require reduced sulfhydryl groups for cell fusion and entry. Corona viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 (the cause of the condition now named coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19), are rich in cysteine, which residues must be intact for viral activity. Sulfhydryl groups are vulnerable to oxidation.
Ozone therapy, a very inexpensive and safe modality may safely exploit this critical vulnerability in many viruses, inclusive of SARS-CoV-2.
Full Study
See Also:
Does Coronavirus have a soft “underbelly” leaving it vulnerable to a simple treatment?
by Dr. Robert Rowen, MD
As I write this, the world is in a state of panic over non-stop news reports and government lock downs across the globe over the spreading COVID-19 disease, caused by a “novel” strain of coronavirus (now termed SARS-CoV-2). Tragically, what the news reports fail to convey is that you have the means to protect yourself and your loved ones with a “novel” treatment one can do at home.
Read the article.


healthimpactnews--2020-03-20--PhD Researcher Judy Mikovits and Expert on Viruses Explains the Coronavirus and Reveals Information

PhD Researcher Judy Mikovits and Expert on Viruses Explains the Coronavirus and Reveals Information You are Not Likely to Hear in the Corporate Media

TV Santa Barbara has published a recent interview with host Bob Lovgren interviewing Dr. Judy Mikovits explaining what the coronavirus is , how it got here , how it can be treated , and other important information you are not likely to hear in the corporate-sponsored “ mainstream ” media .
We have featured Dr. Mikovits ’ work here at Health Impact News many times over the past few years .
Here are some past articles : Vaccines and Retroviruses : A Whistleblower Reveals What the Government is Hiding As Government Denies Existence of Retroviruses , Big Pharma Prepares to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author of the book Plague : One Scientist ’ s Intrepid Search for the Truth about Human Retroviruses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ( ME/CFS ) , Autism , and Other Diseases , co-written by Kent Heckenlively , JD .
I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Mikovits a few years ago , just after a 4-year gag order on her had been lifted .
Dr. Mikovits ’ bio is quite impressive , and would rival any of the talking head “ experts ” currently being featured in the corporate-sponsored media .
Judy A.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from University of Virginia and PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from George Washington University .
In just over twenty years she rose from an entry-level lab technician to become director of the lab of Antiviral Drug Mechanisms at the National Cancer Institute before leaving to direct the Cancer Biology program at EpiGenX Pharmaceuticals in Santa Barbara , California .
There in 2006 , she became attracted to the plight of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Autism .
In only five years she developed the first neuroimmune institute from a concept to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrating the relationship between immune based inflammation and these diseases .
She has published over 50 scientific papers .
Dr. Mikovits spoke the truth about the fraudulent use of government research money , the marketing of inaccurate retrovirus tests , Medicare fraud , the contaminated blood supply , and the harm that is associated with vaccines and their schedule of administration .
Her research showed how retroviruses are linked to the plague of modern illnesses that are bankrupting the U.S. healthcare system .
She was arrested without a warrant and held in jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bail as a fugitive from justice .
Her career was destroyed .
Her story is documented in the book Plague : One Scientist ’ s intrepid Search For the Truth about Human Retroviruses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome , Autism , and Other Diseases .
Please watch this presentation on the coronavirus .
If this video becomes too popular , it will most likely disappear from the Internet .
Leaving a lucrative career as a nephrologist ( kidney doctor ) , Dr. Suzanne Humphries is now free to actually help cure people .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are constrained within the current corrupt medical system from practicing real , ethical medicine .
One of the sane voices when it comes to examining the science behind modern-day vaccines , no pro-vaccine extremist doctors have ever dared to debate her in public .

Comments by Brian Shilhavy
Editor, Health Impact News
TV Santa Barbara has published a recent interview with host Bob Lovgren interviewing Dr. Judy Mikovits explaining what the coronavirus is, how it got here, how it can be treated, and other important information you are not likely to hear in the corporate-sponsored “mainstream” media.
We have featured Dr. Mikovits’ work here at Health Impact News many times over the past few years. Here are some past articles:
She the author of the book Plague: One Scientist’s Intrepid Search for the Truth about Human Retroviruses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Autism, and Other Diseases, co-written by Kent Heckenlively, JD.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Mikovits a few years ago, just after a 4-year gag order on her had been lifted.
Dr. Mikovits’ bio is quite impressive, and would rival any of the talking head “experts” currently being featured in the corporate-sponsored media.
Judy A. Mikovits, PhD, earned her BA from University of Virginia and PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from George Washington University. In just over twenty years she rose from an entry-level lab technician to become director of the lab of Antiviral Drug Mechanisms at the National Cancer Institute before leaving to direct the Cancer Biology program at EpiGenX Pharmaceuticals in Santa Barbara, California.
There in 2006, she became attracted to the plight of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Autism. In only five years she developed the first neuroimmune institute from a concept to a reality and is primarily responsible for demonstrating the relationship between immune based inflammation and these diseases.
She has published over 50 scientific papers.
Dr. Mikovits spoke the truth about the fraudulent use of government research money, the marketing of inaccurate retrovirus tests, Medicare fraud, the contaminated blood supply, and the harm that is associated with vaccines and their schedule of administration.
Her research showed how retroviruses are linked to the plague of modern illnesses that are bankrupting the U.S. healthcare system.
She was arrested without a warrant and held in jail for 5 days without the opportunity for bail as a fugitive from justice. Her career was destroyed.
Her story is documented in the book Plague: One Scientist’s intrepid Search For the Truth about Human Retroviruses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Autism, and Other Diseases.
Please watch this presentation on the coronavirus. If this video becomes too popular, it will most likely disappear from the Internet.
Original Source.
Leaving a lucrative career as a nephrologist (kidney doctor), Dr. Suzanne Humphries is now free to actually help cure people.
In this autobiography she explains why good doctors are constrained within the current corrupt medical system from practicing real, ethical medicine.
One of the sane voices when it comes to examining the science behind modern-day vaccines, no pro-vaccine extremist doctors have ever dared to debate her in public.


healthimpactnews--2020-03-22--Dr. Brownstein: COVID-19 is Much Less Deadly than the Common Flu

I can not understand why we are in a police state atmosphere right now .
Over 99 % of those that contract COVID-19 will recover from it .
Folks , I am not minimizing this illness .
COVID-19 is something to take seriously .
It is highly contagious and spreads quickly .
Yes , it causes respiratory failure and death in those most susceptible : the elderly and those with chronic health conditions including diabetes , heart disease , hypertension , and lung disorders .
We may not even have enough respirators for those who have a serious case .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this story that is not being told .
Did you know that COVID-19 is much less deadly than the common flu ?
Let me explain .
During this flu season ( 2019-2020 ) 1,130,489 samples have been collected .
The number of positive influenza samples is 231,654 ( 20.5 % ) .
( 1 ) “ The CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 38 million flu illnesses , 390,000 hospitalizations and 23,000 deaths from flu .
So , 23,000 deaths from the flu out of 231,654 positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influenza ( as of 3.20.2020 ) is ( 23,000/231,654 ) .
Do we close the country for this ?
Do we declare a lockdown of our states because 10 % are dying from the flu ?
No .
We go to work and live our lives .
Let ’ s look at the numbers for COVID-19 starting with the worst-affected countries China and Italy .
( 2 ) In China there are 80,967 confirmed cases and 3,248 deaths .
That results in a mortality rate of 4 % .
In Italy , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That results in an 8 % death rate .
In the US , we have 19,007 confirmed cases and 250 deaths .
That is a death rate of 1.3 % .
( Note : the death rate in the US is falling as more tests are confirmed as I stated would happen in previous posts . )
Let ’ s look at these results and compare them to the 2020 influenza death rate in the Table below .
Folks , we have shuttered our country quarantining the entire population .
The economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work can ’ t .
Our president has accessed emergency powers .
One bright spot is that at least a few Senators cashed in and sold their stocks before the crash .
Good for them .
( Of course , repeat that last line with lots of sarcasm . )
COVID-19 is overwhelming our hospitals because we had no master plan in place for a pandemic .
That is a massive failure by the Federal Government .
Heads should roll for this as I have been saying since the beginning .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fear go .
This virus is not deadly to the vast majority—over 99 % – who get it .
In fact , I propose at the end of this nightmare , the death rate will be much lower than the common flu that many of us suffer from .
Kids and young people are not dying from it in droves .
As I have stated previously , in the end , when all the testing is done , I predict the death rate will be below 1 % .
In my last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural therapies—vitamins A , C , D and iodine– that have proven to me and my partners to be effective at minimizing viral infections .
Furthermore , a Chinese study on IV vitamin C showed that it was 100 % effective at treating moderate to severe coronavirus infections .
I will discuss that in my next post .
( Note : The IV vitamin C study was supposed to be this post , but I have become very irritated with what has happened in our country and wanted to help alleviate the fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my office , the Center for Holistic Medicine has five practitioners .
None of us can recall a patient who died from influenza or pneumonia this season or in any of the last few seasons .
Our patients get viral infections like everyone else .
We treat them with the therapies I outlined for you before along with IV vitamin C , IV hydrogen peroxide , ozone , and other therapies .
We have so much to offer sick , infected patients .
IV vitamin C should be given to every hospitalized COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pneumonia , sepsis , et cetera .
If you don ’ t have a holistic doctor , it is time to find one .
Conventional medicine has little to offer sick COVID-19 patients .
My partners and I have a lot to offer .
As we increase our testing , the mortality rate for COVID-19 will fall .
The final number will be much lower than the annual flu mortality rate number shown in the Table .
There will be more illness and deaths from this virus , no doubt .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proportion to the problems we are seeing with COVID-19 .
Take your vitamins .
Eat a healthy diet free of refined sugar .
Stay hydrated .
Exercise .
Don ’ t let the media and our Government cloud your thinking .
Look at the numbers .
FDR said it best : COVID-19 deserves our attention and vigilance .
It does not deserve the fear to ruin our country .
We need to make our voices heard .
The politicians need to hear from everyone of us .
Remember , they work for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so .
To All Our Health , Addendum : In previous posts , I wrote that the flu death rate is o.1 % as reported by the CDC .
That number fluctuates each flu season .
It is based on an estimate of the number of flu-infected Americans .
The 10 % number is based on confirmed cases of the flu as I showed you above .
COVID-19 is currently being reported on confirmed cases .
It is inappropriate to compare COVID-19 death rates with estimated CDC flu rate numbers .
A direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu and COVID-19 cases which I have done in this post .

I cannot understand why we are in a police state atmosphere right now. Over 99% of those that contract COVID-19 will recover from it.
Folks, I am not minimizing this illness. COVID-19 is something to take seriously. It is highly contagious and spreads quickly.
Yes, it causes respiratory failure and death in those most susceptible: the elderly and those with chronic health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and lung disorders.
We may not even have enough respirators for those who have a serious case.
However, there is another side to this story that is not being told.
Did you know that COVID-19 is much less deadly than the common flu? Let me explain.
During this flu season (2019-2020) 1,130,489 samples have been collected. The number of positive influenza samples is 231,654 (20.5%). (1) “The CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 38 million flu illnesses, 390,000 hospitalizations and 23,000 deaths from flu.
So, 23,000 deaths from the flu out of 231,654 positive specimens means that the death rate from influenza (as of 3.20.2020) is 10% (23,000/231,654).
Do we close the country for this? Do we declare a lockdown of our states because 10% are dying from the flu?
No. We go to work and live our lives.
Let’s look at the numbers for COVID-19 starting with the worst-affected countries China and Italy. (2)
In China there are 80,967 confirmed cases and 3,248 deaths. That results in a mortality rate of 4%.
In Italy, there are 47,021 confirmed cases and 4032 deaths. That results in an 8% death rate.
In the US, we have 19,007 confirmed cases and 250 deaths. That is a death rate of 1.3%. (Note: the death rate in the US is falling as more tests are confirmed as I stated would happen in previous posts.)
Let’s look at these results and compare them to the 2020 influenza death rate in the Table below.
COVID-19 Death Rate 2020 Influenza Death Rate (confirmed) United States 1.3% 10% China 4% Italy 8%
Folks, we have shuttered our country quarantining the entire population. The economy is a mess. People who need to work can’t. Our president has accessed emergency powers.
One bright spot is that at least a few Senators cashed in and sold their stocks before the crash. Good for them. (Of course, repeat that last line with lots of sarcasm.)
COVID-19 is overwhelming our hospitals because we had no master plan in place for a pandemic. That is a massive failure by the Federal Government. Heads should roll for this as I have been saying since the beginning.
So what’s the good news?
The good news is that you can let the fear go. This virus is not deadly to the vast majority—over 99%– who get it. In fact, I propose at the end of this nightmare, the death rate will be much lower than the common flu that many of us suffer from.
Kids and young people are not dying from it in droves. As I have stated previously, in the end, when all the testing is done, I predict the death rate will be below 1%.
In my last blog post I provided you with effective natural therapies—vitamins A, C, D and iodine– that have proven to me and my partners to be effective at minimizing viral infections.
Furthermore, a Chinese study on IV vitamin C showed that it was 100% effective at treating moderate to severe coronavirus infections. I will discuss that in my next post. (Note: The IV vitamin C study was supposed to be this post, but I have become very irritated with what has happened in our country and wanted to help alleviate the fear that is so prevalent.)
At my office, the Center for Holistic Medicine has five practitioners. None of us can recall a patient who died from influenza or pneumonia this season or in any of the last few seasons. Our patients get viral infections like everyone else. We treat them with the therapies I outlined for you before along with IV vitamin C, IV hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and other therapies. We have so much to offer sick, infected patients.
IV vitamin C should be given to every hospitalized COVID-19 patient–as well as anyone hospitalized with influenza, pneumonia, sepsis, et cetera.
If you don’t have a holistic doctor, it is time to find one. Conventional medicine has little to offer sick COVID-19 patients. My partners and I have a lot to offer.
Final Thoughts
As we increase our testing, the mortality rate for COVID-19 will fall. The final number will be much lower than the annual flu mortality rate number shown in the Table. There will be more illness and deaths from this virus, no doubt. However the fear level is well out of proportion to the problems we are seeing with COVID-19.
Take your vitamins. Eat a healthy diet free of refined sugar. Stay hydrated. Exercise. Don’t let the media and our Government cloud your thinking. Look at the numbers.
FDR said it best:
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
COVID-19 deserves our attention and vigilance. It does not deserve the fear to ruin our country. We need to make our voices heard. The politicians need to hear from everyone of us. Remember, they work for us even if they don’t think so.
To All Our Health,
~DrB
Addendum: In previous posts, I wrote that the flu death rate is o.1% as reported by the CDC. That number fluctuates each flu season. It is based on an estimate of the number of flu-infected Americans. The 10% number is based on confirmed cases of the flu as I showed you above. COVID-19 is currently being reported on confirmed cases. It is inappropriate to compare COVID-19 death rates with estimated CDC flu rate numbers. A direct comparison is done by using actual confirmed flu and COVID-19 cases which I have done in this post.
Read the full article at DrBrownstein.com.
References
(1): https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/#ClinicalLaboratories
(2): https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/coronavirus?ocid=spartanntp


healthimpactnews--2020-03-23--Over $57 Million Paid by U.S. Government for Vaccine Injuries in 2020 as Experimental Coronavirus Va

Over $57 Million Paid by U.S. Government for Vaccine Injuries in 2020 as Experimental Coronavirus Vaccine Fast Tracked

With the nation currently gripped by the Coronavirus crisis , and with most of the public lauding the fact that the FDA is fast-tracking a new vaccine to supposedly fight the Coronavirus , with testing beginning already on humans with the experimental vaccine while bypassing animal testing , unknown to most of the public , a meeting was held on March 6 , 2020 with the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines ( ACCV ) , under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .
These are quarterly meetings held every 3 months , as required by law , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported on by the corporate “ mainstream ” media .
Health Impact News might be the only place where these quarterly meetings are reported , and you can review past reports here .
We have been accused of publishing “ Fake News ” when we publish these reports , but all of the information is available to the public and posted on the Federal Government ’ s websites .
The Big Tech companies that control so much of the Internet ’ s traffic , work hard to suppress this information .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook Pages , for example , you are likely to see this notice inserted to the top of our page : Facebook Owner Admits to Congress that They are Censoring Vaccine Safety Information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) is supposed to be the authoritative source for information about vaccines .
However , the CDC has huge conflicts of interest that are not disclosed to the public , as they are largest purchaser of vaccines in the world , using YOUR tax dollars to purchase them and advertise them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Safety When They Purchase Over $ 5 Billion of Vaccines from Big Pharma ?
Can We Trust the CDC ?
British Medical Journal Reveals CDC Lies About Ties to Big Pharma Government Health Agencies Take Huge Profits from Vaccine Royalties – Gardasil the Top One CDC Paid Maryland $ 123 Million to Promote Gardasil Vaccine as Requirement for School Attendance The CDC also has a long history of corruption within their agency .
See : The U.S. Centers For Disease Control – A History of Corruption Robert F. Kennedy , Jr. Exposes New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Autism Dr. Brownstein on CDC Corruption : “ I am Tired of Writing About This – I See Patients Damaged by Vaccines ” It is no surprise that many among the American population currently have a hard time trusting that the CDC is giving us accurate information regarding the Coronavirus situation .
The March 6th meeting by the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines included a report from the Department of Justice ( DOJ ) on cases settled for vaccine injuries and deaths as mandated by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program ( NVICP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of a law passed in 1986 that gave pharmaceutical companies legal immunity from being sued due to injuries and deaths resulting from vaccines .
If you or a family member is injured or dies from vaccines , you must sue the federal government in this special vaccine court .
Many cases are litigated for years before a settlement is reached .
The March , 2020 DOJ report states that 288 petitions were filed during the 3-month time period between 11/16/19 – 2/15/20 , with 181 cases being adjudicated and 146 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report lists 74 of these settlements for vaccine injuries and deaths , and 60 of those were for damages caused by the flu vaccine ( see below ) .
The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program was originally intended to compensate for vaccine injuries and deaths among children through the childhood vaccine schedule .
But in recent years , most of the settlements have gone to adults , mainly for injuries and deaths due to the flu vaccine .
If you read some of the reports from a few years ago , it can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flu shot used to be for Guillain-Barré Syndrome ( GBS ) , with symptoms similar to polio .
Today , most of the awards for flu shot injuries are for “ Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration ” ( SIRVA ) .
SIRVA stands for “ Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration.
” It can happen when a vaccine is injected into the shoulder too high or too deep and can cause several types of injuries .
However , SIRVA can also occur when a vaccine is properly administered as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to intense , prolonged pain , limited range of motion , and shoulder-related injuries such as Adhesive Capsulitis or Frozen Shoulder Syndrome .
SIRVA can be caused by an injury to the musculoskeletal structures of the shoulders ( for example tendons , ligaments , bursa ) during the injection of a vaccine .
Additionally , it can also be caused by the body ’ s immune system reacting adversely to one or more components of the vaccine .
The seasonal flu shot , among other vaccinations , is the most common cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annually to millions of people in the deltoid muscle of the arm .
( Source . )
56 Year Old Man Enters Hospital with Shoulder Pain – Dies 6 Weeks Later After Developing Infection in Hospital I asked Wayne Rohde , author of the book “ The Vaccine Court , ” why there has been such an increase in awards for SIRVA and decrease in GBS , and he offered this comment : Autism Vaccine Injuries Not Allowed : Too Many One of the main reasons why the Vaccine Compensation Program pays out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anymore , is because they do not allow anyone to sue for “ autism ” related to vaccine injuries .
When the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund was set up in 1988 , autism was the most prevalent vaccine injury brought before the vaccine court , mostly from the MMR ( measles , mumps , rubella ) vaccine .
It soon became apparent that the trust fund , funded through taxes the public pays on vaccines , would not be sufficient to litigate all the claims for autism as a vaccine injury .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases had been filed in the special vaccine court , with 5,617 representing autism cases .
Of those 13,330 cases filed up to March 1 , 2010 , only 2,409 were compensated .
The rest were dismissed , but there were 5,933 cases still pending , and most of those were claims for vaccine-induced autism , mostly due to either the MMR vaccine , or vaccines containing thimerosal ( mercury ) .
So how did the federal government and the vaccine court handle this ?
Simple .
They took 3 “ test cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , and litigated against those claims .
Their own appointed judges then ruled in each case that vaccines were not the cause of their autism .
Then they told everyone else that their autism could not have been caused by vaccines , and that they would pay no damages for all those hundreds of thousands of children suffering with autism .
This was all part of what is called The Omnibus Autism Proceeding .
So if you have a child today injured by vaccines and suffering with autism , you can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as their official position is that “ vaccines do not cause autism.
” U.S. Government being Sued for Lack of Vaccine Safety When the 1986 National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program ( NVIC ) was signed into law , it had certain provisions included to make sure vaccines were regularly tested for safety , since the pharmaceutical companies were being given legal immunity due to faulty vaccines .
The federal government Health and Human Services ( HHS ) department is tasked with this vaccine safety reporting , and a recent lawsuit has revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine safety studies since the law was implemented in 1986 .
See : HHS Sued for Not Upholding Vaccine Safety Testing Mandated by Law Since these facts about vaccines are routinely censored by the pharma-financed “ mainstream ” media and in government hearings , most of the public is largely unaware of the 1986 NVIC , and that pharmaceutical companies can not be sued , and that one has to sue the U.S. Government in a special vaccine court .
Comment on this article at VaccineImpact.com .

by Brian Shilhavy
Editor, Health Impact News
With the nation currently gripped by the Coronavirus crisis, and with most of the public lauding the fact that the FDA is fast-tracking a new vaccine to supposedly fight the Coronavirus, with testing beginning already on humans with the experimental vaccine while bypassing animal testing, unknown to most of the public, a meeting was held on March 6, 2020 with the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
These are quarterly meetings held every 3 months, as required by law, but seldom, if ever, publicized or reported on by the corporate “mainstream” media.
Health Impact News might be the only place where these quarterly meetings are reported, and you can review past reports here. We have been accused of publishing “Fake News” when we publish these reports, but all of the information is available to the public and posted on the Federal Government’s websites.
The Big Tech companies that control so much of the Internet’s traffic, work hard to suppress this information. If you visit one of Health Impact News‘ Facebook Pages, for example, you are likely to see this notice inserted to the top of our page:
See also:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is supposed to be the authoritative source for information about vaccines.
However, the CDC has huge conflicts of interest that are not disclosed to the public, as they are largest purchaser of vaccines in the world, using YOUR tax dollars to purchase them and advertise them. See:
The CDC also has a long history of corruption within their agency. See:
It is no surprise that many among the American population currently have a hard time trusting that the CDC is giving us accurate information regarding the Coronavirus situation.
The March 6th meeting by the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines included a report from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on cases settled for vaccine injuries and deaths as mandated by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP).
The NVICP was started as a result of a law passed in 1986 that gave pharmaceutical companies legal immunity from being sued due to injuries and deaths resulting from vaccines.
If you or a family member is injured or dies from vaccines, you must sue the federal government in this special vaccine court. Many cases are litigated for years before a settlement is reached.
The March, 2020 DOJ report states that 288 petitions were filed during the 3-month time period between 11/16/19 – 2/15/20, with 181 cases being adjudicated and 146 cases compensated.
The March, 2020 DOJ report lists 74 of these settlements for vaccine injuries and deaths, and 60 of those were for damages caused by the flu vaccine (see below).
Read the full March, 2020 DOJ report.
The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program was originally intended to compensate for vaccine injuries and deaths among children through the childhood vaccine schedule.
But in recent years, most of the settlements have gone to adults, mainly for injuries and deaths due to the flu vaccine.
If you read some of the reports from a few years ago, it can be seen that the primary injury compensated from the flu shot used to be for Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), with symptoms similar to polio.
Guillain-Barré (Ghee-YAN Bah-RAY) syndrome (GBS) is a rare, autoimmune disorder in which a person’s own immune system damages the nerves, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. GBS can cause symptoms that last for a few weeks to several years. Most people recover fully, but some have permanent nerve damage. Some people have died of GBS. (Source: CDC)
Today, most of the awards for flu shot injuries are for “Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration” (SIRVA).
SIRVA stands for “Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration.” It can happen when a vaccine is injected into the shoulder too high or too deep and can cause several types of injuries. However, SIRVA can also occur when a vaccine is properly administered as well. This injury can, in turn, lead to intense, prolonged pain, limited range of motion, and shoulder-related injuries such as Adhesive Capsulitis or Frozen Shoulder Syndrome. SIRVA can be caused by an injury to the musculoskeletal structures of the shoulders (for example tendons, ligaments, bursa) during the injection of a vaccine. Additionally, it can also be caused by the body’s immune system reacting adversely to one or more components of the vaccine. The seasonal flu shot, among other vaccinations, is the most common cause of SIRVA because the vaccine is given annually to millions of people in the deltoid muscle of the arm. (Source.)
See:
I asked Wayne Rohde, author of the book “The Vaccine Court,” why there has been such an increase in awards for SIRVA and decrease in GBS, and he offered this comment:
The average SIRVA award range is $80,000.00 to $ 110,000.00.
The average GBS award range is $225,000.00 to $ 500,000.00 plus life care annuity depending on the severity. (My estimate.) The average award for child injuries was around $350,000.00 to $ 1 million depending on injury and severity. (My estimate.) With SIRVA becoming the dominant damage award, we are seeing a shift from more costly compensation to very inexpensive awards. The trend will be continue to lower the average award as more SIRVA cases become the ONLY award plus a few other adult cases of GBS sprinkled in.
Autism Vaccine Injuries Not Allowed: Too Many
One of the main reasons why the Vaccine Compensation Program pays out most awards to adults and not children anymore, is because they do not allow anyone to sue for “autism” related to vaccine injuries.
When the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund was set up in 1988, autism was the most prevalent vaccine injury brought before the vaccine court, mostly from the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.
It soon became apparent that the trust fund, funded through taxes the public pays on vaccines, would not be sufficient to litigate all the claims for autism as a vaccine injury.
By March 1, 2010, 13,330 cases had been filed in the special vaccine court, with 5,617 representing autism cases. Of those 13,330 cases filed up to March 1, 2010, only 2,409 were compensated. The rest were dismissed, but there were 5,933 cases still pending, and most of those were claims for vaccine-induced autism, mostly due to either the MMR vaccine, or vaccines containing thimerosal (mercury).
So how did the federal government and the vaccine court handle this?
Simple. They took 3 “test cases” that they said represented all of them, and litigated against those claims. Their own appointed judges then ruled in each case that vaccines were not the cause of their autism.
Then they told everyone else that their autism could not have been caused by vaccines, and that they would pay no damages for all those hundreds of thousands of children suffering with autism. This was all part of what is called The Omnibus Autism Proceeding.
So if you have a child today injured by vaccines and suffering with autism, you cannot sue the federal government in vaccine court, as their official position is that “vaccines do not cause autism.”
U.S. Government being Sued for Lack of Vaccine Safety
When the 1986 National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVIC) was signed into law, it had certain provisions included to make sure vaccines were regularly tested for safety, since the pharmaceutical companies were being given legal immunity due to faulty vaccines.
The federal government Health and Human Services (HHS) department is tasked with this vaccine safety reporting, and a recent lawsuit has revealed that they have failed to conduct such vaccine safety studies since the law was implemented in 1986. See:
Since these facts about vaccines are routinely censored by the pharma-financed “mainstream” media and in government hearings, most of the public is largely unaware of the 1986 NVIC, and that pharmaceutical companies cannot be sued, and that one has to sue the U.S. Government in a special vaccine court.
And now, experiment vaccines for COVID-19 are being fast-tracked and are being tested on humans, invoking the PREP Act to use emergency powers due to the “pandemic.”
See Also:
Comment on this article at VaccineImpact.com.


healthimpactnews--2020-03-23--Dr. Brownstein: Politicians Making Big Decisions Based on Fear and not Based on Data

I was at Costco yesterday and did NOT enjoy my experience .
The tension was palpable everywhere .
( Note : This had nothing to do with Costco . )
There were shoppers wearing N95 masks .
That irritated me .
The masks are in short supply for front-line health care workers and there is simply no reason to wear that at Costco .
COVID is not passed that easily through the air .
Folks , the fear level out there is beyond reason .
Unfortunately , my Governor and the rest of our lawmakers , including those in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear and not based on data .
As I have been writing to you , the data is out there that COVID-19 is serious but only to a small percentage of our population—when all is said and done , less than 1 % .
Could I be wrong ?
Of course , it wouldn ’ t be the first time .
But , I have learned to do my own research and trust myself with the conclusions I come to .
I utilize my research and my practical experience in order to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my patients or how to approach this COVID-19 pandemic .
I have been practicing medicine for over 25 years .
During that time I have become a much better physician than I was at the beginning ( at least I hope so ) .
In medical school you learn far too many things that have no relevance in the real practice of medicine .
Only when you get out in the real world does the real teaching begin .
But , medical school did teach me important tools to become a competent physician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was taught in medical school was to observe my patients .
That was an important lesson .
I observe how they look , walk , sound , and act .
And , I observe recurring patterns with respect to diseases .
I have found it useful to observe disease patterns since many diseases consistently appear and disappear according to the calendar .
One pattern that consistently repeats itself is that the flu season ( for most ) seems to start around the winter solstice ( December 20-23 ) and ends around the spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year the spring equinox was on March 20 , 2020 .
I have seen the reports that COVID-19 may be going on for up to 18 months .
Some commentators are saying that we need to quarantine for at least six months to a year to get rid of it .
Look at the following chart from the CDC that summarizes the peak month of flu activity from 1982-2018 : You can see the season starts in October and November with low numbers , peaks in January and February and begins to decline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity can change between the months of January , February and March .
Keep in mind , this chart is an average of the activity between 1982-2018 .
I have observed , on a yearly basis , that my patients begin to get less colds and other influenza-like illnesses around the spring eqionox .
Some go into April and few go into May with viral infections , but they are usually fewer and fewer the further away from the spring solstice date .
My four partners—Drs .
Ng and Nusbaum , Jenny and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Between all of us , we have over 100 years of experience seeing this pattern .
So , what does this have to do with COVID-19 ?
COVID-19 is more contagious than the common flu , but not that much more contagious .
The ‘ R naught ’ ( RO ) is an estimate for how many other people one sick person is likely to infect .
The RO for the common flu is 1.3 meaning one person can spread it 1.3 others .
The RO for COVID-19 is 2-3.11 meaning one infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For comparison , the RO for measles is 11-18 .
COVID-19 is more contagious than the common flu but much less contagious than measles .
This should limit how long the illness lasts .
Coronaviruses do not like warm temperatures and higher humidity .
As we warm in the spring , that should help .
But , as previously stated , I have seen the spring equinox lower the incidence of flu-like illnesses for over 25 years .
Some years , it takes a little while longer than others .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks after the equinox .
Let me finally jump off my cliff here without a parachute .
( BTW , I had an interesting parachuting experience when I was 18—that is for another time . )
I predict that COVID-19 will be begin to recede in its lethality over the next 2-3 weeks .
The number of cases may still rise during this time because we have a back-log of tests and are testing more .
I also predict the number of cases will begin to decline in 3-4 weeks–regardless of what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the flu season and I see no reason why COVID-19 would behave differently than any other flu-like virus .
Could I be wrong ?
Yes .
The virus could mutate to a more aggressive strain .
But , it could also mutate to a less lethal strain as well .
Most highly aggressive and lethal viral strains eventually fade out after a short time on their own .
Time will tell if I am right .
Unless this virus is markedly different than the other 200 or so flu-like viruses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times very soon .
Don ’ t let your fear rise when all the new cases are reported .
They are being reported in increasing numbers because we are testing more .
The death rate is continuing to decline , just as I predicted it would .
As of this writing ( 3.22.20 ) , there have been 349 deaths and 29,270 infected .
That results in a death rate of 1.2 % .
Initially , the US COIVD-19 fatality rate was between 2-3 % ( though I can ’ t cite this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memory ) .
This rate continues to decline because there are many more who recover uneventfully from COVID-19 .
The media only sensationalizes the very ill and dying .
The headline on MSN right now epitomizes the fear-based reporting by stating , “ US Death Toll Rises… ” It is a true headline as more have died over the last 24 hours .
Perhaps a better headline could read , “ Death rate for COVID-19 falls as more are tested.
” Folks , I know this is serious stuff .
People have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important to not let fear guide your decisions .
Fear is guiding our Government right now and that is not going well for us .
Take your supplements .
See a holistic doctor .
Eat well—avoid refined sugar !
Maintain optimal hydration .
These are some of the holistic steps you can take to avoid becoming a statistic in this crisis .
We will overcome this , and I think better times are coming soon .
To All Our Health ,

Coronavirus XII: There Is Good News
by David Brownstein, M.D.
DrBrownstein.com
I was at Costco yesterday and did NOT enjoy my experience. The tension was palpable everywhere. (Note: This had nothing to do with Costco.) There were shoppers wearing N95 masks. That irritated me. The masks are in short supply for front-line health care workers and there is simply no reason to wear that at Costco. COVID is not passed that easily through the air.
Folks, the fear level out there is beyond reason. Unfortunately, my Governor and the rest of our lawmakers, including those in Washington, are making big decisions based on fear and not based on data. As I have been writing to you, the data is out there that COVID-19 is serious but only to a small percentage of our population—when all is said and done, less than 1%.
Could I be wrong? Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time. But, I have learned to do my own research and trust myself with the conclusions I come to. I utilize my research and my practical experience in order to make an appropriate decision about how to treat my patients or how to approach this COVID-19 pandemic.
I have been practicing medicine for over 25 years. During that time I have become a much better physician than I was at the beginning (at least I hope so). In medical school you learn far too many things that have no relevance in the real practice of medicine. Only when you get out in the real world does the real teaching begin. But, medical school did teach me important tools to become a competent physician.
One of the main things I was taught in medical school was to observe my patients. That was an important lesson. I observe how they look, walk, sound, and act. And, I observe recurring patterns with respect to diseases.
I have found it useful to observe disease patterns since many diseases consistently appear and disappear according to the calendar. One pattern that consistently repeats itself is that the flu season (for most) seems to start around the winter solstice (December 20-23) and ends around the spring equinox (March 19-21). This year the spring equinox was on March 20, 2020.
I have seen the reports that COVID-19 may be going on for up to 18 months. Some commentators are saying that we need to quarantine for at least six months to a year to get rid of it.
I SAY, HOGWASH!
Look at the following chart from the CDC that summarizes the peak month of flu activity from 1982-2018:
You can see the season starts in October and November with low numbers, peaks in January and February and begins to decline in March. The peak month of activity can change between the months of January, February and March. Keep in mind, this chart is an average of the activity between 1982-2018.
I have observed, on a yearly basis, that my patients begin to get less colds and other influenza-like illnesses around the spring eqionox. Some go into April and few go into May with viral infections, but they are usually fewer and fewer the further away from the spring solstice date. My four partners—Drs. Ng and Nusbaum, Jenny and Taylor all concur with this assessment. Between all of us, we have over 100 years of experience seeing this pattern.
So, what does this have to do with COVID-19? COVID-19 is more contagious than the common flu, but not that much more contagious. The ‘R naught’ (RO) is an estimate for how many other people one sick person is likely to infect. The RO for the common flu is 1.3 meaning one person can spread it 1.3 others. The RO for COVID-19 is 2-3.11 meaning one infected person can spread it to 2-3.1 others. For comparison, the RO for measles is 11-18. COVID-19 is more contagious than the common flu but much less contagious than measles. This should limit how long the illness lasts.
Coronaviruses do not like warm temperatures and higher humidity. As we warm in the spring, that should help. But, as previously stated, I have seen the spring equinox lower the incidence of flu-like illnesses for over 25 years. Some years, it takes a little while longer than others. However, I am only referring to a few weeks after the equinox.
Let me finally jump off my cliff here without a parachute. (BTW, I had an interesting parachuting experience when I was 18—that is for another time.) I predict that COVID-19 will be begin to recede in its lethality over the next 2-3 weeks. The number of cases may still rise during this time because we have a back-log of tests and are testing more. I also predict the number of cases will begin to decline in 3-4 weeks–regardless of what we do. We are coming to the end of the flu season and I see no reason why COVID-19 would behave differently than any other flu-like virus.
Could I be wrong? Yes. The virus could mutate to a more aggressive strain. But, it could also mutate to a less lethal strain as well. Most highly aggressive and lethal viral strains eventually fade out after a short time on their own.
Time will tell if I am right. Unless this virus is markedly different than the other 200 or so flu-like viruses, we should be in for much better times very soon.
Don’t let your fear rise when all the new cases are reported. They are being reported in increasing numbers because we are testing more. The death rate is continuing to decline, just as I predicted it would. As of this writing (3.22.20), there have been 349 deaths and 29,270 infected. That results in a death rate of 1.2%. Initially, the US COIVD-19 fatality rate was between 2-3% (though I can’t cite this, I am taking this from my memory). This rate continues to decline because there are many more who recover uneventfully from COVID-19. The media only sensationalizes the very ill and dying. The headline on MSN right now epitomizes the fear-based reporting by stating, “US Death Toll Rises…” It is a true headline as more have died over the last 24 hours. Perhaps a better headline could read, “Death rate for COVID-19 falls as more are tested.”
Folks, I know this is serious stuff. People have died and more will die. It is important to not let fear guide your decisions. Fear is guiding our Government right now and that is not going well for us. Take your supplements. See a holistic doctor. Eat well—avoid refined sugar! Maintain optimal hydration. These are some of the holistic steps you can take to avoid becoming a statistic in this crisis. We will overcome this, and I think better times are coming soon.
To All Our Health,
~DrB
Read the full article at DrBrownstein.com.