Fact
● Did something happen? Following WW1, The 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic killed between 50-100 million people worldwide. It was one of the most widespread and deadliest pandemics in human history. ● What are the facts? The H1N1 outbreak from the spring of 1918 to the late winter of 1919 killed between three to five percent of the world population. It came in three waves, the deadliest of which occurred in the fall of 1918, the same time that WW1 ended. The spread of soldiers back to their homes caused the disease to spread rapidly among almost every country in the world. Particularly baffling to doctors was the fact that the disease was especially fatal among young healthy people, especially men. Many soldiers who survived the war were killed only a few weeks later by the disease. The disease influenced culture, politics, and healthcare around the world. ● How did it begin and what are its causes? The origin of the virus is unknown, but it's theorized to have begun in either Boston, France, or China. The pandemic's widespread nature is due to the high virulence of the virus, the fast transportation systems of the 20th century, and the mass dispersion of soldiers after WW1. The virus was discovered to be an H1N1 virus in the 1990’s, but it's still unknown why it was so deadly. ● What changed to create the problem/issue? At some point, an antigenic shift or drift occurred (viral mutation). The virus passed from an animal (likely birds) to humans, and spread worldwide from there. Definition ● What exactly is the problem/issue? We are highly susceptible to another destructive pandemic. ● To what larger class of things or events does it belong? Natural disasters, turning points of the modern world, public health emergencies. |
Quality
● How serious is the problem/issue? Viruses are unreliable, especially as humans move away from farming (less exposure and immunity to animal viruses) and move into uncharted nature (deforestation, iceberg melting). This behavior has put us in a very susceptible position for another mass pandemic. As it has been seen throughout history, it is only a matter of time before another event happens that not even modern medicine can prevent. ● Whom might it affect (stakeholders)? The entire human race! Specifically immunocompromised or poor populations. ● What happens if we don't do anything? Without preparation, we are doomed to repeat history. We are not invincible to the suffering that has happened again and again due to diseases ranging from the Plague of Justinian to AIDS. Policy ● Should action be taken? Three things must continue to heppen: Efforts to create a universal flu vaccine must be invested in People need to continue getting VACCINATED (GET YOUR FLU SHOT!) Healthcare and public health agencies must be invested in ● What needs to happen to solve this problem/address this issue? The CDC and WHO are major health organizations that engage in regular surveillance and data collection across the world. They also have taken several precautions and helped shut down several potential outbreaks. In order for these lifesaving efforts to continue, government money must continue to be invested in public health. Furthermore, the American healthcare system must be fixed and the entire population must be given equal access to healthcare in order to ensure safety for all. |