Module 8 - Pandemics

Pandemics

 

Humanity has been battling pandemics like the Corona Virus or COVID-19 for many millenniums. Overtime, the planet has seen many mutations of viruses and we have always figured out a way to coexist. Many plagues have been well recorded. Two in particular are the plague of Afro-Eurasian and the Small Pox pandemic in Mesoamerica. Both have similarities to the novel Corona Virus. 

The Afro-Eurasian pandemic began in China in 1331 and wiped out about 50% to 90% of the population. By some account about half of the European population died from the disease in just the first two years.  The disease was so deadly, it was coined the Black Death. This disease was carried by rodents and transmitted to humans by fleas, a resemblance to the Corona Virus, almost 700 years later, traveling from bats and making the leap in the genome to humans. Basically, transferring from animal to human. The Black Death took about 50 years to get to East Africa. It’s believed it was brought there through the Chinese maritime expeditions. Another similarity to how the Corona Virus traveled in a matter of months from China to the United States via modern air travel. 

The second devastating pandemic was the Small Pox pandemic that swept though Mesoamerica with the arrival of the Spanish Monarchy. The Spanish brought diseases the native people of Mesoamerica had not been exposed to. Diseases brought to the continent were Smallpox, Measles, Typhus, Influenza, Malaria, and Yellow Fever. Influenza is one of those virus that has mutated overtime and generally attacks the respiratory track similar to Corona Virus. It is unknown whether it was a form of the Corona Virus. Either way, without modern medicine many people perished. Some estimates say approximately 9 out of 10 people died. The time became known as the Great Dying. The similarity to the Corona Virus is that others brought the diseases to the “new world”. 

Living in Mexico for the first few years of my life, I’m a walking example of the Smallpox vaccine given to every Mexican child, most likely because of the Great Dying era. It’s been 400 years and people still fear that time period. I have a scar on my right shoulder from the vaccine but at least I’m safe of that. 

 

The Corona Virus pandemic of 2020 has turned our world upside down. We were a thriving country full of energy, confidence, and hope. Only 6 months ago, we were all out enjoying the nice California weather. We had good paying jobs. We were eating and hanging out, enjoying the latest beer gardens. We were confident of our finances and future. Many of us hoped to walk the stage this past May and graduate along side other students who have sacrificed to return to school in hopes of a better life. The Notre Dame de Namur graduation did not happen. Many people have lost their jobs. Confidence has hit an all time low. What a difference six months and one pandemic can make. If only there were a vaccine, I would sacrifice my other shoulder for a scar just so we can all get back to a normal life.   

 

References: Robert W. Strayer, Eric W. Nelson - Ways of the World_ A Brief Global History with Sources, Combined Volume (2015, Bedford_St. Martin’s) - libgen.lc.pdf