By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas First District Congressman Dr. Roger Marshall continues to deliver the prepare, don't panic message when it comes to the coronavirus.
"This is a time to prepare and to make a plan," Marshall said Friday. "Putting it in perspective, you're much more likely to die from the seasonal flu than you are from the coronavirus. Every year, across the United States, tens of thousands of people die from the seasonal flu. So far, 3000 people across the world have died from this virus."
Marshall believes it is being taken seriously and everything to prevent and quarantine it is being done.
"I don't think that this is a time to overreact," Marshall said. "Put it into perspective, over 100 people will die from a motor vehicle accident today, but we're not telling you to not drive today. Let's all take a deep breath here."
Coronavirus is a concern for those for whom any communicable disease would be one, but not necessarily more so than any other.
"I think as people understand what this is and what it isn't, it calms down a little bit," Marshall said. "The seasonal flu probably has about a 1 in 1000 chance of killing you, but the people that die are typically elderly people, immunocompromised. Pregnant women can have some bad reactions to it and young, young children, as well. This particular virus, for whatever reason, it looks like children and young adults typically have very mild cases. It does not impact them as much."
Those with underlying heart or lung conditions are especially susceptible to coronavirus, where symptoms tend to settle in lung tissue along with a fever.