> There were also human cases getting reported at a rate that some suggested matched the pattern for the early days of an epidemic. An epidemic is by definitio

> There were also human cases getting reported at a rate that some suggested matched the pattern for the early days of an epidemic. An epidemic is by definition a statistically significant deviation from historic baselines. Every single upswing within the normal rates of variability - all of the sin curve living above 0 - looks like “early epidemic.” We have one every month. That was scare-mongering, too. Everyone loves to report an incipient disaster, at least until people get numb and the ratings fall down.