I’ve seen a lot of posts in here lately about heightened fears about coronavirus. I work in public health and wanted to provide a little context. It is certainly scary when we have a new disease and we don’t have a vaccine or cure, but put bluntly, flu poses a much greater danger, and many of our fears are misplaced.

By the numbers: This new strain of coronavirus has killed 132 people so far, all of them in China. More than 6,000 total cases have been reported worldwide, although experts believe that total is underestimated.

By comparison, this year's flu season has killed 8,200 people, with at least 15 million cases — and that's just in the U.S.

Either way, washing your hands carefully is your best defense. Be safe and cherish your loved ones.