Module 7: Corona Virus into Historical context

A pandemic arises when a new virus emerges that infects people and spreads continuously. Usually, these viruses are new and do not have a pre-existing vaccine/ cure, therefore they spread worldwide. There are terms that are used to refer to the spread of a virus. If a disease is constrained to a large community, population, or region, this is considered an epidemic. If this epidemic spreads to different countries/ regions, this is when it is considered a pandemic. Therefore, a disease needs to impact countries outside its borders to be considered a pandemic/ have a global impact to be considered a pandemic. Smallpox is considered to be a pandemic as it affected the international scene and was not restricted to a region. 

The Spanish Flu is considered as the most brutal pandemic in the history of mankind. The virus is caused by an H1N1 virus of bird origin, but experts note that it is still unclear where the virus originated from. There were an estimated 500 million people infected by the virus. That's one-third of the globe's population at the time. The virus caused 50 million deaths worldwide and an estimated 700,000 deaths which occurred in the United States. The virus lasted for more than a year, in the years 1918-1920. As the people were unable to find a vaccine to stop the cure and antibiotics to treat secondary infections, the people of the time resulted in isolation, social distancing, quarantine, and good hygiene. 

Another pandemic that affected the world is the pandemic that introduced the concept of quarantine and isolation. The Bubonic plague. The plague is an infection of the lymphatic system, usually resulting from the bite of an infected flea known as Xenopsylla cheopis. The disease can be transmitted by direct contact with infected tissue or exposure to the cough of another human. The virus began in the year 1200 at the Himalayan Mountains of South Asia. The reason for its emergence is due to the poor living conditions of the people at the time. Black rats were the common carriers of the bacteria which the virus originated from. After many years, the pandemic ended in the year 1353. 

An example of an epidemic that occurred in the United States is the Diptheria epidemic of 1921. It was noted that about 15,520 people died due to the epidemic during its peak. A vaccine for the virus was licensed in the mid-1920s, and catching the virus in the present day is rare. The virus causes swelling of the mucous membranes and can obstruct breathing and swallowing. The virus usually causes fatal heart and nerve damage. 

As a human being living through the corona-virus pandemic, I believe it to be such a historical moment in time. As I was doing my research and reading up on different pandemics, it occurred to me that the pandemic we are currently experiencing will be listed in the “pandemics that shook the world” list. In the future, if I or my successors do research, the COVID pandemic will arise and I’ll be able to say, I was present when it happened! Living in and experiencing the world during the pandemic is a whole new experience. When I first heard about the virus, I did not think of it so deeply. One thing I’ve learned is no one should ever have that mindset. Just because it does not affect you directly does not mean that it is not severe. As the months began to pass and the virus became a pandemic, I experienced a series of different emotions. At first, I was filled with anxiety. When will this end? What if someone I know gets infected? Being thousands of miles away from my home country made the situation even more difficult as it was hard to connect and check-up on my family and friends back home. I am also able to say that I had the chance to celebrate my birthday amidst a pandemic. I am also aware of the thousands of people who are losing their jobs and facing economic crises. I believe I am blessed enough to not be one of them, nevertheless, their story on living through this rough time is definitely different from what I have to offer. Being in isolation and quarantine is a different experience from a normal “staying at home” day. I became grateful for being able to go out and experience the world before the quarantine. But I also feel like I am able to grow and make myself a better person during this time of isolation. I found new hobbies and taught me different things. I was also able to focus on my mental health and mindset. 

Living through a pandemic is different for everyone, but there is one thing we all have in common. It’s the fact that we lived through it. In the future, we’ll all be talking and telling people about how the pandemic changed the world and even changed ourselves and how we look at the world. As I did my research, the bigger pandemics occurred in the early 1920s and it has been a long time ever since something this big hit the world again. This is a crucial time in the history of mankind, and definitely one for the books. 

Works Cited:

Team, the Healthline Editorial. “The Worst Outbreaks in U.S. History.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 5 Oct. 2018, www.healthline.com/health/worst-disease-outbreaks-history#9.