Contagion (Steven Soderbergh, 2011)

[tenia]

SpoilerShow

It's not that surprising since the movie sourced this element from a real life past case.

Is it a specific case? I always assumed it was inspired by two ideas common around that time: that fruit bats were a likely reservoir for ebola, and that ebola jumped to humans through bushmeat practises.

They were inspired by the 2003 SARS and the 2009 flu epidemics, but I was approximative by saying it was sourced from a "real life past case" (the 1997 Nipah virus) : it seems to be only reminiscent of it and not a willingful source. However, 2003 SARS was already traced back to bats, so we're in the same ballpark anyway.

Anyway, didn’t look into the patient zero story, but is that what you think inspired Soderbergh’s movie?

I'm (genuinely) not sure of was you mean here.
I only meant that Contagion's setup was sourced from real life viruses, so it's not surprising that we stumbled on another real life virus close to the older ones, and thus to Contagion's setup, but all very SARS-like, not Ebola-like.

[Mr Sausage]

You used the singular, so I was wondering which specific case of zoonosis you meant.

Contagion is the nightmare scenario of what would happen if ebola mutated and became airborne. The theories that fruit bats were a natural reservoir for ebola and that consuming bats as bushmeat caused the original jump to humans seemed to be informing the movie’s set up, at least to me.

[DarkImbecile]

If anyone happens to be interested in reading more about animal-human disease transfer, David Quammen's book on the topic, Spillover, is both very readable and anxiety-inducing (in a responsible, scientifically grounded way, not a sensationalized Hot Zone way)

[tenia]

You used the singular, so I was wondering which specific case of zoonosis you meant.

In this case then, the Nipah virus indeed.

[therewillbeblus]

If anyone happens to be interested in reading more about animal-human disease transfer, David Quammen's book on the topic, Spillover, is both very readable and anxiety-inducing (in a responsible, scientifically grounded way, not a sensationalized Hot Zone way)

Biological warfare and general mass-spreading of animal-human disease transfer is my greatest fear (and why this movie, and something like Stephen King's The Stand are so effective, although the latter's most interesting elements come from the sociopolitical context of establishing government and order from scratch), so I'll pass unless you think that in addition to the anxiety, it provides details that are reassuring in any way as to the possibilities/solutions to the potential incident.

[Nasir007]

What a coincidence. I bought this movie off iTunes about 10-12 days ago (not due to the coranavirus) because some other film review I was reading mentioned it and I thought back about how I had loved the film when it had first come out. I especially loved the pharmacy riot sequence which was so economically staged as to require only 2 or 3 shots.

I daresay people caught in the path of coronavirus might find the movie terrifying.

[tenia]

I'll pass unless you think that in addition to the anxiety, it provides details that are reassuring in any way as to the possibilities/solutions to the potential incident.

You might want to pass then.
It's very informative and extremely well done in terms of scientific unfolding, but it's quite bleak and relentless all the way through.

SpoilerShow

It does offer a solution by the end of the movie, though, but it's clearly a bittersweet ending.

[Big Ben]

If anyone happens to be interested in reading more about animal-human disease transfer, David Quammen's book on the topic, Spillover, is both very readable and anxiety-inducing (in a responsible, scientifically grounded way, not a sensationalized Hot Zone way)

Biological warfare and general mass-spreading of animal-human disease transfer is my greatest fear (and why this movie, and something like Stephen King's The Stand are so effective, although the latter's most interesting elements come from the sociopolitical context of establishing government and order from scratch), so I'll pass unless you think that in addition to the anxiety, it provides details that are reassuring in any way as to the possibilities/solutions to the potential incident.

This outbreak is certainly not good but it's nowhere near as bad as the media is making it out to be. This current iteration of coronavirus has a mortality rate of about three percent and of those who are dying they are almost always individuals over the age of fifty with comorbidity issues/conditions such as a weakened immune system or lungs. You're far more likely to die from a regular strain of influenza than you are this version of the virus. Could that change? Sure. But it's unlikely to do so as organizations like the CDC and the WHO are already maintaining and managing reported cases worldwide. This outbreak is most certainly not a good thing but it's not exactly a The Stand/Contagion level issue either. I'd say read with confidence ordinarily but if it makes you nervous it's best to let it wait or not do it at all.

[DarkImbecile]

If anyone happens to be interested in reading more about animal-human disease transfer, David Quammen's book on the topic, Spillover, is both very readable and anxiety-inducing (in a responsible, scientifically grounded way, not a sensationalized Hot Zone way)

Biological warfare and general mass-spreading of animal-human disease transfer is my greatest fear (and why this movie, and something like Stephen King's The Stand are so effective, although the latter's most interesting elements come from the sociopolitical context of establishing government and order from scratch), so I'll pass unless you think that in addition to the anxiety, it provides details that are reassuring in any way as to the possibilities/solutions to the potential incident.

It almost becomes reassuring in a roundabout way — example after example illustrates that this kind of crossover happens so often and yet so rarely results in global pandemics like the 1919 flu, partially due to modern science and partially due to some of the diseases being so lethal to humans that their spread is inherently limited. On the other hand, it's those once-in-a-few-centuries bugs that kill 5% of all human beings on the planet that get everyone all wound up.

[tenia]

You're far more likely to die from a regular strain of influenza than you are this version of the virus.

Looking at the figures, it might not be that clear-cut. Influenza has a basic reproduction number (R0) of 1.4 and a case fatality rate around 0.03-0.1%. The 2019 coronavirus looks to have a 1.4-3.8 R0 (ie as or more contagious) but a mortality rate around 2.2%.
The question will be clearly about how this spreads worldwide.

[zedz]

If anyone happens to be interested in reading more about animal-human disease transfer, David Quammen's book on the topic, Spillover, is both very readable and anxiety-inducing (in a responsible, scientifically grounded way, not a sensationalized Hot Zone way)

Biological warfare and general mass-spreading of animal-human disease transfer is my greatest fear (and why this movie, and something like Stephen King's The Stand are so effective, although the latter's most interesting elements come from the sociopolitical context of establishing government and order from scratch), so I'll pass unless you think that in addition to the anxiety, it provides details that are reassuring in any way as to the possibilities/solutions to the potential incident.

This outbreak is certainly not good but it's nowhere near as bad as the media is making it out to be. This current iteration of coronavirus has a mortality rate of about three percent and of those who are dying they are almost always individuals over the age of fifty with comorbidity issues/conditions such as a weakened immune system or lungs. You're far more likely to die from a regular strain of influenza than you are this version of the virus. Could that change? Sure. But it's unlikely to do so as organizations like the CDC and the WHO are already maintaining and managing reported cases worldwide. This outbreak is most certainly not a good thing but it's not exactly a The Stand/Contagion level issue either. I'd say read with confidence ordinarily but if it makes you nervous it's best to let it wait or not do it at all.

Another important factor is that many people infected by coronavirus do not manifest serious symptoms. This is a problem, because it makes it harder to identify infected people, but it also means that the 3% fatality rate is likely overestimated, since there's no clear idea how many people actually have the virus.

[Aunt Peg]

I re-watched Contagion earlier in the week when glancing through my vast collection. Partially because of what is unfolding but also to see how the film holds up. In 2011 I thought it was an excellent expose of what would happen in the event of a pandemic @1918. The cast don't really have a great deal to do in the film beyond playing their parts and only Jennifer Ehle (what a great screen presence she is) is really effective beyond the limitations of the film. I didn't find it edge of your seat 'Oh My God' back in 2011 and I didn't find it that way a couple of days ago either but the film holds up very well and is compulsive viewing. Its funny I'd forgotten certain actors where even in it and as soon as they appeared so much of my first viewing came back to me.

I think what happens around the world in the next couple of weeks will give us more of an idea of what we may actually be facing. I'll admit always having a morbid fascination with the 1918 flu epidemic and due to that have always had a stock up of essential items. Even when I travel interstate within my own country or internationally a take ample supplies of certain things. Which reminds me if the vet doesn't get back to me tomorrow about all the food I've ordered for my cats I'll get in contact with them. I want to make sure I have about a years supply.

[colinr0380]

So what you are all saying is that we really need to try and quarantine Gwyneth Paltrow and prevent her from travelling internationally as soon as possible? Using this current health crisis as the convenient excuse for doing so, if necessary!

(Slightly) more seriously, with comments about these types of viruses being spread by touching surfaces I often wonder about the usage of keypads to get into various buildings, with everyone having to tap in the same entry codes! That sort of makes it even more inevitable that you are going to have to touch the exact same surfaces as somebody who has just wiped their runny nose, and so on! I'm sure that all of those high tech labs and meeting rooms (even the gyms!) as shown in Contagion all have those kinds of security measures in place!

Although I worry about mentioning it, as the last thing I want is for everyone to have to have their own individual personalised entry code for a building to spread out usage of the keys of a number pad, as I think I would go insane if I had to remember yet another password! I am almost on the verge of forgetting the date of my birthday as it is, what with all of the other number combinations vying for brainspace! (I guess it will become a moot point in the future anyway when we are all having to retina scan ourselves to get access to places, and so on!)

[tenia]

(Slightly) more seriously, with comments about these types of viruses being spread by touching surfaces I often wonder about the usage of keypads to get into various buildings, with everyone having to tap in the same entry codes!

Coins and bills probably are the number 1 vector, if you're looking into this kind of things.
And of course, remember about the toilets door handles. Even if people wash their hands AFTER the deed, the handle on the hallway door is likely not to be clean at all anyway.

[Mr Sausage]

If you're anxious about it, buy a small bottle of hand sanitizer and carry it around with you. But mainly, don't touch your eyes. You should be fine.

If someone coughs or sneezes at you, on the other hand... Living in an ever more crowded world with less personal space, especially if you take public transport, makes spreading these kinds of infections all the easier.

[colinr0380]

I have noticed that new development of automatic liquid soap dispensers that activate when you run your hand under their sensor which I thought was a neat idea, though they still seem rather rare in places where they would really be useful, such as public bathrooms. I was also thinking about the current fad of 'hot desking' in work environments. I have a pack of Clinell disinfectant hand wipes to give all the computer equipment and desk a good wipe down after leaving it to other people's attentions for a while! Though that might have Greta Thunberg coming after me now due to the waste!

The problem is that once you start down that road of being suspicious of everything nothing is clean enough and I'd end up like Lady Macbeth, continually scrubbing my hands to get rid of non-existent stains!

[Monterey Jack]

And of course, remember about the toilets door handles. Even if people wash their hands AFTER the deed, the handle on the hallway door is likely not to be clean at all anyway.

I always wrap my hand in my jacket (or my shirt if it's the summer) when grabbing the door handle of a public restroom. Either that or a couple of paper towels.

[hearthesilence]

After washing my hands, I avoid physical contact with anything altogether and just leave the sink running while waiting for someone else to open the door.

[aox]

I suddenly have the urge to rewatch The Aviator.

[domino harvey]

I suddenly have the urge to rewatch The Aviator.

The lesser-covered cateaskatharinevirus

[hearthesilence]

I suddenly have the urge to rewatch The Aviator.

Compulsive hand washers unite: this is our Spartacus!

[swo17]

So I actually wash my hands against the wetness of public door handles, which I presume is only strengthening my immune system

[domino harvey]

My first visit to NYC, my friend who was a local told me I’d either get over wanting to wash my hands all the time or go crazy. I see hearthesilence opted for the latter

[hearthesilence]

To be fair, there's nothing more comforting than the warm, greasy feel of the subway poles.

[therewillbeblus]

I suddenly have the urge to rewatch The Aviator.

Compulsive hand washers unite: this is our Spartacus!

I’ll join this club. At one point I met the “one-hour” criteria for OCD in the DSM mostly from hand washing, it was bad. Also, working with kids for ~11 years now really made things worse. I’ve gotten some nasty skin diseases and probably at least no-joke ten-plus cases of pinkeye, and this is while already being a germaphobe/compulsive hand washer. Two winters ago I got it five times in two months and I wasn’t that far away from Hughes in my approach to life by the third bout. Thankfully I saw an eye specialist and they discovered I had dry-eye which was bringing on the symptoms of conjunctivitis and then leading to it, so I guess half of those weren’t the kids’ fault. Needless to say I live in constant fear of pinkeye, and all the illnesses my kids carry. I won’t embarrass myself further by explaining my rituals of cleaning my office after each client leaves, but my supervisor jokes that I should wear a hazmat suit to work.