The History of Pandemics:
Throughout the history, as the humans spread across the world, the infectious diseases have been a constant companion. Even in this modern area we live in, the outbreaks are nearly constant.
Here are some of history’s most deadly pandemics, from the end of 19th century to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19):
Cholera 6 outbreak: 1817 -1923 -1 M deaths
Russian Flu -1889-1890 -1 M deaths
Spanish Flu: 1918-1919- 40-50 M deaths
Asian Flu: 1957-1958- 1.1 M deaths
Hong Kong Flu: 1968-1970 -1 M deaths
HIV/AIDS: 1981-present
The Warnings:
A report from the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB), co-convened by the World Bank and the World Health Organization, stated that between 2011 and 2018, there were tracked 1,483 epidemics worldwide, including Ebola and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). As a result, in 2019 WHO called for world leaders to take seven concrete actions to lessen the risk of a new pandemic, including monitoring progress during international summits, creating multi-year disaster plans, strengthening United Nations coordination, and building preparation systems across all sectors.
Nevertheless, the inevitable stroke on 31st of December 2019, when the World Health Organization was alerted to several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China. The virus did not match any other known virus.
Considered not soon enough, on the 7th of January 2020, China confirmed COVID-19.
Few weeks later, on the 25th of January, Canada confirmed too its first case, and on the 11th of March 2020 the WHO declares the global outbreak of COVID-19, a Pandemic.
The Present Battle:
Everyday, the Microbiology Laboratories around the globe bring us to the attention, new numbers and summaries of positive-tested people, the entire world facing real battles and sorrowful challenges: to stay safe and healthy, to protect the families, the jobs, the financial stability, the continuity of education and the access to medicines, supplies and the essentials for living.
Sadly, the travels and countries’ borders have been shut down, the schools, the banks, the shopping centres and parks, the buildings and businesses, all closed for an indefinite period of time, as we were all kindly asked by the governments and health ministries to self quarantine so we can prevent the spread of the killer virus. The better we all comply with the safety measures, the sooner we’ll be able to go back to our normal life.
Stay positive:
On a positive note, staying at home due to the pandemic can be looked at as less of a curse and more of a blessing: the families reunite, become closer to prayer and spirituality, share meals and laughter together with their loved ones, the children are happier having their parents close-by, the over worked and tired can relax and rest. There is now more time for introspection, hobbies, love and … singing on the balcony.
But above all that, due to the factories being closed, less consumption of electricity and gas, of worldwide consumerism, we can now say that the Earth is breathing.
Satellite images released by NASA and the European Space Agency show a dramatic reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions -those released by vehicles, power plants and industrial facilities - in major industrial cities around the world, between January and March. The visible cloud of toxic gas hanging over countries almost disappeared.
Let’s praise the doctors:
And while the world is quiet and seems like taking a break, there is a major sound of desperation coming from the hospitals around the world. The doctors and nurses, our heroes, constantly fight and never give up in helping the ones in need, even when paying with their own lives.
Sadly, in one of the most affected by the virus countries in the world, Spain, on the 24th of March the health Ministry stated that nearly 14 percent of the confirmed cases were medical professionals.
Across Western Europe, the health care professionals describe living times of war, them being the soldiers on the front lines, struggling a battle against the coronavirus which has left some hospitals on the brink of collapse.
I ask all of you to take a moment and praise, be grateful and thank these amazing people, the doctors and the nurses, for their efforts in saving our lives and for helping us going through these dark times. God bless them!
Forecasts:
It is hard to calculate and forecast the impact of Coronavirus COVID-19 because the disease is new to medicine and data is still coming in. The Public Health Agency of Canada is actively monitoring the situation and working with the WHO and other international partners, to gather additional information that is passed to all of us in a timely manner.
The good news is that on the 11th of March Canada announced would provide $275 million towards the research, and together with Germany, the United States, the European Union and others, have collectively committed more than a billion dollars allocated into prevention efforts and a quicker development of the vaccine for the deadly disease. Once done, it will be accessible, and let’s hope, affordable too.
But for the time being, I think it’s best to listen to Dr Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer who tells us everyday to stay at home, self isolate, go for walks and grocery shopping only if necessary, as we, the people have a very important role in the community spread of Coronavirus COVID-19.
My 91 years old grandmother that faced II World War, hunger times and decades of Communism has recently told me: “Cristina, having each other is all that matters. This too shall pass, we will be alright!”.
Comments