What is a Pandemic?
As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads across the globe, the World Health Organization has categorized it as a pandemic and urges countries to take measures to help minimize the spread. During this time we need to understand what a pandemic truly is and how we can manage the situation at home to prevent the spread of infection. In The Pandemic At Home series produced a few years ago by BrandMinded’s own Creative Director, Ren Scott, we find much information that is still useful today that can be applied to the world’s current fight against the Coronavirus.What is a Pandemic?
A true pandemic is defined in three parts. It is a unique virus; something the body has no natural immunity to, it is easily transmissible and very aggressive and is care-cyclical. As with the Coronavirus, we have no natural resistance to it and it could take months to develop a vaccine for it.
Pandemic History
Scientifically we’ve seen pandemics occur every 8-50 years and with modes of transportation and the close proximity in which we live today, we’ve got people in megacities living on top of each other. It’s something to be very concerned about.
Pandemic Impact – The Spanish Flu of 1918
The most devastating pandemic in recorded history was the Spanish Flu of 1918. More people died of the flu in those two years than were killed in World War One. An estimated 675,000 Americans died of influenza during that time. Due to its extremely devastating effects on human health worldwide, the Spanish Flu became the benchmark that we measure all other pandemics by. It caused millions of deaths worldwide and lasted through the better part of two years, 1918 and 1919 before it subsided.
Even with all the advances in modern medicine, the threat of another major pandemic in this day and age has proven to be very real and become a reality.
Surviving a Pandemic
Preparation is key for containing a pandemic like Coronavirus because when it hits it has the potential to affect every single person on earth. During a pandemic everything changes.
In less than three months since it was discovered, the Coronavirus has already affected the way many of us go about our daily lives and it is having a big impact on our communities. Schools are closing, major events are being canceled or postponed, shoppers are buying in bulk, and many are avoiding crowded areas. In more serious cases, other countries have already faced even worse than that. They are seeing overcrowded hospitals and entire communities are having to be quarantined.
While scientists are working tirelessly to find a new vaccine for COVID-19, the process could take months. However, by staying informed on how the virus spreads, what symptoms to look for, and how we can care for ourselves and our family we can help play a role in stopping the spread of the virus.
Follow along to learn more about how to be proactive in dealing with a pandemic like the Coronavirus. Next in our Pandemic Video Series: Hygiene Tips To Follow During A Pandemic.