Did the Simpsons predict the coronavirus 27 years ago?

In 2000, the Simpsonspredicted the presidency of Donald Trump and since then people have been on the look out for other possible future predictions from the show. Recently, among the fear of the fast-spreading Coronavirus, an image has been found on Twitter with what seems to be the Simpsons' prediction of the virus.

As we can see the image couldn't have been more fabricated. However, in the episode itself, while the virus doesn't have the same name as our current pandemic it still carries some interesting similarities.

In the episode entitled 'Marge in Chains' which aired in 1993, a virus is started by the government to keep the masses under control. The virus called 'Osaka Fever' started in Japan with a factory worker stating to his co-worker 'please don't tell the supervisor I have the flu'. the worker then sneezes into a box which gets shipped to America. Homer receives a package as well as Skinners, Patty and Selma. Upon opening, they all get infected and the virus spreads like fire throughout Springfield.

The episode is pure coincidence but just like Osaka Fever, the Coronavirus started in Asia where it made its way internationally. However, unlike the episode, this epidemic started off in China and was spread mainly through airborne germs, mass immigration and air travel. An important thing to note though is the imagery of the factory workers, which shows a similarity to the influence the Coronavirus has had on the economy.