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Pandemics and Infectious Disease Blog
Infectious
Diseases: "Infectious
diseasesare
disorders caused by organisms — such
as bacteria, viruses, fungi or
parasites. Many organisms live in
and on our bodies. They're normally
harmless or even helpful. But under
certain conditions, some organisms
may causedisease.
Someinfectious
diseasescan
be passed from person to person."
Read More at Mayo Clinic
Pandemics:
"An epidemic that spreads globally
is apandemic.
The 1918 Spanish influenza, which
infected more than one-third of the
world’s population and killed
approximately 50 million people, is
the most famous example. There have
been several influenza pandemics
since 1918—in 1957 and 1968, as well
as H1N1 in 2009." Read More at
JAMA Network
Epidemics: "Anepidemicis
an outbreak that spreads over a
larger geographical area. Examples
include Zika virus, starting in
Brazil in 2014 and spreading to most
of Latin America and the Caribbean;
the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West
Africa, which was large enough to be
considered an epidemic; and the US
opioid crisis."
Read More at
JAMA Network
The
world is facing another far reaching
pandemic that threatens to disrupt the
social, medical, political and economic
stability of many countries on the planet
Earth.
History is replete with instances that
led to changes that were dramatic, long
lasting and challenging to our evolution.
Whether it was the Black Death in 1350 or
more recent pandemics, such as the Spanish
Flu large numbers of individual suffered and
died. The
diseases spread rapidly due to politization, ignorance,
superstition and even denial.
Empires and nations fell, civilizations
collapsed and millions died. Perhaps the worst
example occurred when the Europeans brought with
them smallpox, measles, whooping cough, cholera, and
other diseases which killed large segments of the
Native American populations.Read
more at the
Colorado Encyclopedia
The Coronavirus 19 at one time faced our
civilization with new challenges in our religious,
economic, political, social and health institutions.
Today the crisis has waned but we must continue testing,
tracking and vaccinating, so as to protect
vulnerable individuals. I fear many have listened to
conspiracy theories, not been vaccinated, stopped using
preventative measures and we will see another spike,
because those who have not had their vaccine shots
will get infected and give the virus a base for
mutation. This is not a legal issue it
is a health issue.
Pandemics should never be a religious, partisan,
business or social issue. This problem should have
been prevented, faced and dealt with when we first
realized its potential. This is not the time
for profiting, price gauging, misinformation, lying,
partisanship, pontification, squabbling, finger
pointing and being just plain stupid! We must listen
to our scientists, doctors and experts In places
such as the
CDC,
WHO,
and the
NIH. Other sources of information can be found
at
CNET,
the
World
Economic Forum and
CNN
if you are
over 60 along
with Huffington Post. Politicians
can raise funds (use the money for treatment,
containment, vaccine development and stabilizing the
economy) not for pet projects, political payback or
advancing pet projects. Politicians need to help overcome this situation but they
should not be allowed to control the message.
History has shown that when we rely on politicians,
military leaders, religious leaders and other people
with special interest, a disaster soon followed. We
as individuals should not panic, shop wisely (do you
really need that much toilet paper?) we must demand
honesty and listen to the advice of the
medical institutions and experts.
