Dear Editor,

In your viewpoint this week (February 27, 2020), you incorrectly stated that Coronavirus started in China. This is incorrect. The current strain of Coronavirus, called COVID-19, started in China. However, strains of the viruses that are together called Coronavirus are of unknown origin and have been known to science since 1962.

More people will get sick and die from the flu this year than this coronavirus. Media outlets such as yours have caused this heighted state of concern that has now spread to the marketplace. I encourage you to take a moment to see how the media has contributed to the overstated concern about this virus and encourage your readers to wash their hands frequently and get vaccines for the viruses such as the flu that we do have available.

Sincerely,

Helena Seiver

Plains