Coronavirus seems to be on everyone's mind these days when it happens to be the number one news topic on social media and televised news. This article isn't about the Coronavirus virus itself but the virus of fear. After reading this I hope some of your fears will disappear along with all of the other virus scares that have come and gone.
There is no doubt that the Coronavirus can kill, it mainly affects the young and elderly along with those who have compromised immune systems. The latest tolls are up to 200 dead and have sickened 9800 people in China. The Chinese government is rushing to build hospitals to cope with the influx of people, airline flights have been canceled and suspended to and from the outbreak area. The United States has also suspended all flights to the area.
What you probably don't know is that the flu strain that most Americans get every year kills 80000 people per year in the United States, in the last twenty years it has killed over 1.5 million in the United States alone. I know you might find this shocking but you keep in mind that even if this spreads across America that the death toll will be smaller than the flu we get every year.
Your probably freaking out by now thinking this was meant to calm my fears not send me into a panic curled up in the fetal position in the corner waiting to die! The facts are is that fear makes money, a lot of money. Stocks rose in the medical sector almost 35%, those who placed short sales on travel, entertainment and airlines made 20%. Fear is taught to you from birth to adulthood and there are those that understand that it dictates the markets and makes money.
I hope that this will give you a little comfort before the flu season finally arrives for the year, that there are those out there playing on your fears, smiling every time there is an outbreak.
