Did The Simpsons predict the coronavirus outbreak?

The season four episode shows Asian characters sneezing, spreading some sort of virus, and Homer and other characters getting affected by this very virus.

By DEBORAH DAHAN

FEBRUARY 3, 2020 14:42

Bart and Homer Simpson in "The Simpsons." (photo credit: FOX/TNS) — Bart and Homer Simpson in "The Simpsons."

(photo credit: FOX/TNS)

It sometimes feels like Homer Simpson may be the lucky owner of a magic crystal ball, witnessing events in Springfield years before the same events unroll in our world.

Do you remember when The Simpsons predicted Donald Trump's presidency, sixteen years before it actually happened? Well, Homer may just have struck again.

In the past few days, hundreds of social media posts claim that The Simpsons also predicted the coronavirus outbreak.

The Simpsons have done it again #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/OHBnmU0KKL
— Jordan Coombe (@Jordan_Coombe) January 30, 2020

As reported by Screencrush.com, social media posts show the famous news reporter Kent Brockman warning Springfield residents about the "Corona Virus." The scene shows Asian characters sneezing, spreading some sort of virus, and Homer and other characters getting affected by this very virus. Sounds familiar, no?

Well, think again.

According to Screencrush.com, although there are many similarities with the coronavirus outbreak, America's longest-running sitcom gives a slightly different scenario. In Marge in Chains, season 4, a Japanese flu spreads in Springfield after germs traveled to America inside the boxes of products manufactured in Japan.

As of February 3, 362 people have died from the virus – including one in the Philippines – and more than 17,400 people have been infected, including more than 150 in 23 countries outside of China.