To understand why the world should not be scared of Covid-19, we shall in this write-up, revisit one of the deadliest pandemics in world’s history.
We shall discover that the present COVID-19 outbreak is making news because of globalisation, and globalisation is the tool that would wipe it off.
Over one hundred years ago, a world recovering from a global war that had killed some 20 million people suddenly had to contend with something even more deadly: a flu outbreak.
The pandemic, which became known as Spanish flu, is thought to have begun in cramped and crowded army training camps on the Western Front.
Between 1918 and 1919, the outbreak spread rapidly across the world, and killed 50 million to 100million people within 15 months at a time when the worlds population was 2 billion.
The speed of the pandemic was shocking; the numbers of dead bodies overwhelmed hospitals and cemeteries.
Quarantine centers, emergency hospitals, public use of gauze masks, and awareness campaigns were all undertaken swiftly to halt the spread.
But as World War I was coming to a close, millions of soldiers were still traveling across the globe, aiding the spread of the disease.
While its exact origins are still debated, it’s understood that the “Spanish Flu” did not come from Spain but most likely the US
At the time there was no vaccine to prevent the spread of the virus, and no antibiotics to treat secondary infections, authorities resorted to non-medicinal interventions including quarantines, isolation, and increased sanitation.
The Spanish Flu infected over 500 million persons. Thought to be a quarter or third of the worlds population then.
For over a year the world looked as though it was coming to an end.
Then suddenly all went well and the Spanish flu faded away from the memories of both survivals and their descendants.
Over a century after, we are faced with another pandemic, Coronavirus.
Globilisation has aided its spread but same globilisation is the tool that will see to its defeat certainly leaving us with figures that will be nothing close to the Spanish Flu..
There is no need to be too scared, it is just a disease and would be treated.
Stay at home, wash your hands, respect prevention measures by governments and WHO and be safe.
Courtesy, OBI Roland AYUK
