essay for pandemic desieses
Answers
Pandemics are large-scale outbreaks of infectious disease that can greatly increase morbidity and mortality over a wide geographic area and cause significant economic, social, and political disruption. Evidence suggests that the likelihood of pandemics has increased over the past century because of increased global travel and integration, urbanization, changes in land use, and greater exploitation of the natural environment (Jones and others 2008; Morse 1995). These trends likely will continue and will intensify. Significant policy attention has focused on the need to identify and limit emerging outbreaks that might lead to pandemics and to expand and sustain investment to build preparedness and health capacity (Smolinsky, Hamburg, and Lederberg 2003).
The international community has made progress toward preparing for and mitigating the impacts of pandemics. The 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic and growing concerns about the threat posed by avian influenza led many countries to devise pandemic plans (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2005). Delayed reporting of early SARS cases also led the World Health Assembly to update the International Health Regulations (IHR) to compel all World Health Organization member states to meet specific standards for detecting, reporting on, and responding to outbreaks (WHO 2005). The framework put into place by the updated IHR contributed to a more coordinated global response during the 2009 influenza pandemic (Katz 2009). International donors also have begun to invest in improving preparedness through refined standards and funding for building health capacity (Wolicki and others 2016).
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COVID-19: Latest news and resources
Everything you need to know about pandemics
Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, MD on May 22, 2018— Written by Yvette Brazier
Pandemic or
A pandemic is an outbreak of global proportions. It happens when a bacterium or novel virus becomes capable of spreading rapidly.
It causes serious illness and can spread easily from one person to the next.
The word pandemic comes from the Greek pandemos meaning “pertaining to all people.” The Greek word pan means “all” and the Greek word demos means “people.”
This article discusses the difference between epidemics and pandemics, how pandemics start, and future concerns.
Fast facts on pandemics
Pandemics are usually caused by a novel infectious agent, an infectious agent that is newly capable of spreading rapidly, or both.
The death toll in a pandemic is generally higher than that in an epidemic.
The Spanish flu was the worst pandemic in history, killing 100 million people.
Increased travel and mobility have increased the likelihood of new diseases spreading.
Antibiotic resistance increases the risk of future pandemics.
Pandemic or epidemic?
Share on PinterestThe death toll of a pandemic is usually much greater than that of an epidemic.
A pandemic is when a disease spreads across a wide geographical area and affects many people.
An epidemic is specific to one city, region, or country, but a pandemic spreads beyond national borders, possibly worldwide.
An endemic disease is one that is always present in a particular place or community.
An epidemic is when the number of people who experience an infection is higher than the number expected within a country or a part of a country.
If an infection becomes widespread in several countries at the same time, it can become a pandemic.
A pandemic is usually caused by a new virus strain or subtype that becomes easily transmissable between humans, or by bacteria that become resistant to antibiotic treatment. Sometimes, pandemics are caused simply by a new ability to spread rapidly, such as with the Black Death.
Humans may have little or no immunity against a new virus. Often a new virus cannot spread between people, but if it changes, or mutates, it may start to spread easily. In this case, a pandemic can result.
In the case of influenza (flu), seasonal outbreaks — or epidemics — are generally caused by subtypes of a virus that is already circulating among people.
Pandemics, on the other hand, are generally caused by novel subtypes. These subtypes have not circulated among people before.
A pandemic affects more people and can be more deadly than an epidemic. It can also lead to more social disruption, economic loss, and general hardship.
Influenza pandemics
A pandemic can occur when a type of influenza virus, known as the influenza A virus, changes suddenly. This change can result in a virus that is different than any virus that already exists. This is called an antigenic shift
On the surface of the virus are HA proteins and NA proteins. If one or both of these change, a new influenza A virus subtype can result.
If this subtype gains the ability to spread between people, a pandemic can result.
After the pandemic emerges and spreads, humans develop some immunity. Then, the virus subtype can circulate among humans for several years, causing occasional flu epidemics.
Various bodies around the world, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitor the behavior and movements of the virus.
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History
The Spanish flu pandemic, from 1918 to 1920, claimed 100 million lives. It is considered the worst in history. The Black Death claimed the lives of over 75 million people in the 14th Century.
Some pandemics and epidemics that have occurred include:
Share on PinterestThe Black Death killed 30-60% of Europe’s total population.
Plague of Justinian 541
Black Death 1346-1350
Cholera 1899-1923
Spanish flu (H1N1) 1918-1920
Asian flu (H2N2) 1957-1958
Hong Kong flu 1968-1969
Avian flu (H1N1) 2009
Some viruses are present in animals but rarely spread to humans. Sometimes an event can happen that makes this possible.
Health authorities are concerned when a case arises of an animal virus passing to humans, as this can be an indication that the virus is changing.
Swine flu and bird — or avian — flu, refer to viruses that were common in pigs or birds, but not in humans, until an antigenic shift occurred.
In recent years, there has also been concern about viruses that have been linked to camels (causing Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS)