Contagion jumps back into film charts amid coronavirus outbreak

The Steven Soderbergh thriller Contagion has shot back into the charts nine years after its release following the outbreak of coronavirus.

The 2011 movie – starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law and Jennifer Ehle – jumped to number 10 on the iTunes movie rental chart this week, alongside newer movies like Joker, Downton Abbey, Ad Astra and Hustlers.

A nine-year-old movie jumping into the charts is quite strange, but reading the synopsis, it’s easy to understand while it’s back in people’s minds.

Contagion sees a woman, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, return to the States from a work trip in Hong Kong with cold-like symptoms, only to die in hospital two days later.

Her son also dies, but her husband, played by Matt Damon, is somehow immune.

Contagion was inspired by the SARS epidemic of 2003 and swine flu, and was praised by scientists for its accurate depiction of a virus outbreak, with its screenwriter Scott Z Burns previously consulting with representatives from the World Health Organisation.

The similarities of the film and the current coronavirus outbreak – the virus starting in China, for example – obviously have people eager to watch Contagion almost a decade after its release.

Two people in the UK have tested positive for coronavirus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan in China.

At least 213 people have died in China due to the outbreak – most in Hubei province – with almost 10,000 cases nationally.

Another 98 cases have been confirmed in 18 countries outside China, eight involving human-to-human transmission in Germany, Japan, Vietnam and the US.

As the crisis worsens, China’s state broadcaster has called off its live red carpet coverage of the Academy Awards.

Meanwhile, the country’s biggest Chinese New Year films have been pulled, with film and TV shoots being shut down.

Last night, the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus a global emergency.

Wuhan Coronavirus - is there a vaccine and what are the symptoms?

The novel coronavirus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan, which has a population of 11m people, in December.

It has led to large parts of China being placed under quarantine, with flights and transport being grounded and Lunar New Year celebrations being cancelled as China attempts to prevent others from becoming infected.

Cases have also been reported in other parts of the world including Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand, Canada, the US, France and Germany.

Is there a vaccine for coronavirus?

At present there is no vaccine for coronavirus - although several different organisations are working to create one.

Those reported to be working on a potential vaccine include National Institutes of Health as well as other private companies including Inovio, Novavax, Johnson and Johnson and Moderna - the latter working directly with US government health agencies.

Despite all the combined efforts it could still be a while before a vaccine against the current coronavirus is ready.

A spokesman for the Institutes said that it could be a few months before the first clinical trials get underway, and a year or more before it's available.

Meanwhile Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, who are also reported to be working on a vaccine, have said that if one were developed it would most likely be given to healthcare workers first due to their exposure to patients suffering from coronavirus.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

The early symptoms of the virus include a dry cough, a fever, shortness of breath and a sore throat.

While many of those affected have shown only mild symptoms, some have gone on to develop fluid in the lungs consistent with viral pneumonia.

The virus is more likely to progress into a severe illness or prove fatal among older patients or those with weakened immune systems.

There is no specific cure for the coronavirus - as it's a viral infection, antibiotics won't help.

The World Health Organisation has suggested avoiding close contact with anyone suffering from an acute respiratory infection and ensuing that coughs and sneezes are covered with disposable tissues or clothing.

They also recommend regular hand-washing as well as  avoiding unprotected contact with wild or farm animals.