Pandemics: Past, Present, and Future...

Although the end of the Coronavirus feels as though it may never arrive, all pandemics will eventually come to an end. Past pandemics eventually subsided and have become illnesses like any other. Pandemics, in many ways are inevitable. They are not a matter of if, but a matter of when. Our response to these natural occurrences ultimately makes the biggest difference. 

Quarantine, self-isolation, limited public gatherings, excessive uses of disinfectants, and the constant reminders to wash your hands, wear a mask and cover your mouth were all foreign concepts to the world at the start of 2020. Although actions in response to the pandemic currently being promoted by authorities such as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the World Health Organization (WHO),  and the United States Government seem drastic and otherworldly, it is not the first time such measures have had to be taken. In fact, these same practices were being enforced over 100 years ago. 

The 1918 Flu Pandemic was the most severe in recent history. Considering the overcrowding and constant travel and world movements associated with World War I, nearly one-third of the world's population was infected with an H1N1 virus which spread quickly and killed at least 50 million people across the globe, with 675,000 of these deaths from the United States. To put this into perspective, the 1918 Flu killed more than the total number of deaths that resulted from the First World War. 

The first outbreaks in the United States began in March of 1918. Hundreds of soldiers, who had recently returned from the war to Fort Riley, Kansas, showed flu-like symptoms and the numbers seemed to double and triple throughout the first weeks. This would only be the first of three separate waves of the pandemic. By December of 1918, public health officials began programs to educate and publicize the harmful effects of coughing and sneezing without covering your mouth, and the careless disposal of "nasal discharges" such as leaving a used tissue out in the open. The Committee of the American Public Health Association also began encouraging businesses to stagger their working hours to prevent overcrowding. With no vaccine or antibiotics to combat this health crisis, the world turns to other ways to control the virus from spreading. Isolation, quarantine, good personal hygiene, use of disinfectants, and limitations of public gatherings all made their way into world history for one of the first times. 

Its almost as though the COVID-19 pandemic has mirrored the timeline of its predecessor. Coronavirus is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It comes from a family of several different viruses which can cause illnesses in humans ranging anywhere from a common cold to very severe diseases.  This strain has become an extremely serious global health threat which spreads rapidly through respiratory droplets caused by sneezing, coughing, or talking. The symptoms are very similar to those of the flu but can be different for each person infected. If infected, one may experience symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nasal Congestion
• Body aches
• Sore throat
• New loss of smell or taste
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea 

Many people may not experience any symptoms at all. 

First identified in December of 2019 in Wuhan, China the virus made its way to the United States at the beginning of 2020. The numbers quickly increased to the point of forced statewide and nationwide shutdowns. Universities, businesses, and churches were all required to close and transition to an online format. By March, the government responded to the crisis by enforcing things such as masks and social distancing. Masks were required at public places, the public was constantly reminded to maintain good personal hygiene and wash their hands, self-isolation such as working from home was encouraged, two-week quarantines were mandated for anyone infected with the virus, socially distancing of being at least six feet from others was being enforced, and gatherings could have no more than 10 people. 

But responses to COVID-19, such as quarantine have also come with their fair share of difficulties. The crisis has greatly impacted many people's mental health. Pandemics can be extremely stressful as one is stuck with an overwhelming amount of emotions. Throughout this pandemic specifically, people are stuck at home where fear, anxiety, and depression can linger with a limited amount of outlets to cope. Many people feel alone and fear that they may endanger loved ones whose immune systems may not be able to handle an illness such as coronavirus. In struggling with COVID, we must remember to also take care of our mental health. In the same way, we wear a mask and wash our hands,  we must also find ways to cope with stress and our emotions such as working out reading, or painting.    

 

With a disease that spreads so quickly and easily, it feels as though the world will take years until they return to normal. After every period of progress, another spike in COVID cases takes us a few steps back. In many ways, it feels as though the country has completely forgotten about the pandemic at hand. As explained by Olga Khazan of The Atlantic, "'compassion fade' sets in when victims are no longer individuals but statistics". It is as simple as this: the majority of people no longer take into account that these are real people who are dying from this illness. Those dying are no longer mourned, they have only become a number. Thousands were upset with the government's responses to coronavirus and will continue to be until it is over. 

Analytical Response