China, Coronavirus, and the Limitations of Modern Medicine

China, Coronavirus, and the Limitations of Modern Medicine
 
The most recent announcement from the Chinese version of the CDC was disturbing.  Li Bin, vice head of China’s National Health Commission reported that there are now 440 confirmed coronavirus, 9 deaths, and at present some 1,394 patients are under medical observation.  Even more disturbing was the Chinese decision to pretty much lock down Wuhan, a city of near 11 million people. 
 
These viruses show up from year to year, so the discovery of a new one is not that problematic.  According to scientist Leo Poon, who was the first to decode this virus, this most likely started in an animal and then spread to the human population.  What has been concerning to many is the manner in which this particular virus has spread so quickly.  Some in the international community of doctors are concerned that the reporting in China has been less than honest about how many are infected.  Their reports say that the virus has spread to at least 1700 and may be as many as 2200. 
 
Equally problematic is that there are now cases in multiple cities throughout the area around Wuhan. According to a report in the New York Times officials are planning to close off Huanggang, a city of near seven million 30 miles east of Wuhan, as well as shut down rail stations in Ezhou, a city of a million.  There are also travel restrictions on some smaller cities in the area. If this was a small problem that the Chinese government had under control, why are such wide-ranging choice being made?  Another issue according to those on the ground is the overwhelming of the Wuhan hospitals and medical facilities.  Long lines are evident and many of those who stand in them are complaining that they are being seen too quickly and are being sent home with some medication.  They are told that if their symptoms get worse they can return later. 
 
Dr. Guan Yi, professor of infectious diseases in Hong Kong, and an expert on the SARS virus (another coronavirus from 2003) has been very vocal about the errors that the Chinese officials are making with the spread of this current virus.  He is amazed that the Wuhan Chinese officials have been obstructing his efforts to investigate the current outbreak.  After visiting Wuhan recently he was astounded that no special measures are being taken in markets and public areas.  They were shocked to learn that the airport was not disinfecting surfaces and floors.  Such a lack of concern is only supporting the continued outbreak of the virus in these areas – and unfortunately has led to the spread of it to other cities and regions. 
 
God’s Word speaks of a time when a fourth of the world population will be killed by war, famine, and pestilence.  Pestilence would include things like the outbreak of viruses like the one that began in Wuhan. Too many think that modern medicine will curb these events to where the loss of life will be minimized.  The problem is that an unholy trinity of things is beginning to affect our ability to stem the tide of these events.  First there is the limitations of antibiotics to ever-strengthening viruses.  We are watching the antibiotics we’ve trusted for generations begin to face a growing list of viruses and other illnesses that resist them.  Second there is the dangerous trend of recent viruses that mutate quickly.  The problem this presents is that the “cures” we have become ineffective when a virus mutates.  Thus the research that went into our initial cure is quickly overcome by the mutation of a virus into another resistant strain.  Third, is the way that these events are being seen through a political lens rather than a medical one.  The delays by government officials in this particular outbreak have made the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus much worse than if medical and CDC officials were allowed to address it.  A corollary to this is the growing demand for personal rights that often handcuffs officials from quarantining illnesses so that they are not allowed to spread quickly to others.  These limitations in this current situation led to a chart being published that gave predictive numbers on the Wuhan coronavirus spread that could take place if it is not dealt with more seriously very soon. 
 
If International Doctors are correct, the number of infected could go something like this:
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JAN 23 – 2656
JAN 25 – 3320
JAN 27 – 4150
JAN 29 – 5187
JAN 31 – 6484
FEB 2 – 8106
FEB 4 – 10132
FEB 6 – 12665
FEB 8 – 15832
FEB 10 – 19790
FEB 12 – 24738
FEB 14 – 30922
FEB 16 – 38652
FEB 18 – 48315
FEB 20 – 60393
FEB 22 – 75492
FEB 24 – 94365
FEB 26 – 117956
FEB 28 – 147445
 
Numbers like these are sobering to see.  They also help us grasp the reality of “pestilence” that could destroy not just thousands, but tens of millions.  Maybe Revelation is not quite so hard to believe now.