The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down ~1.9% today on fears of the Coronavirus in China. This is the second session of panic sales this week due to the outbreak.
This is certainly concerning, however the damage wrought by influenza right here in the US does seem to put our fears in perspective. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/01/24/coronavirus-versus-flu-influenza-deadlier-than-wuhan-china-disease/4564133002/
This article in USA Today points out that while 4,000 cases of Coronavirus have been detected, 800 have been made ill, and 26 have died, during the same winter there were over 13 million cases of influenza in the US. This left 120,000 in the hospital and 6,600 dead. Both of these facts are tragic, but the stark contrast does seem to highlight the effects of disproportionate media coverage on certain issues and how it may affect the markets as a whole.
The Investment Club 