The outbreak of the "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2" (Covid-19/Coronavirus) began in Wuhan, China. Thought to be a strain evolved from bats, the virus spreads quickly through the nasal cavities, and with today's global transportation network the virus was worldwide in a matter of weeks. The virus resides in the lower respiratory tract and as a result, is expelled whenever coughing. With its ability to survive several days on hard surfaces, the virus has infected nearly 5 million people and the number only keeps rising (Lerner, K. L., & Lerner, B. W. (2020). Novel coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19)). Thanks to modern medicine as well as an emphasis on hygiene during this pandemic, the infection rate has begun to stabilize. The death rate of the virus is around 2% with the elderly and immunocompromised being the most at risk. Another important fact to take into consideration is that while the virus itself is not super deadly, it leaves your lungs in a compromised state allowing other infections, like pneumonia, to take advantage of your lungs and kill you (("Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)," WHO).
The Spanish Influenza Outbreak from 1918-1919 (Spanish Flu) is a mutated strain of the common flu virus that is spread in a similar fashion to the Coronavirus, "Spread in droplets of mucous expelled by sneezing, coughing, and exhaling". A major reason for the deadliness and infection rate of this virus was due to the time period surrounding it. The world was at war and the U.S. was more focused on containing the secret of the virus than protecting its people. War proved to be a breeding ground for a virus with soldiers being packed so closely in barracks and already being wounded was no help. A similar quarantine to today was developed in some states, however, without standardized regulations, the virus was allowed to spread rapidly. The virus was fast acting and would leave its victims bedridden for days if not weeks assuming they hadn't already died within the first few days from their lungs full of fluids and blue skin caused by a lack of Oxygen. With all these factors and a lack of medicinal prowess found in the early 20th century, the virus reached a staggering 20% mortality rate in some places, killing an average of 1 million people per week and leaving over 675,000 Americans dead (Simon, Higgins, J., & Higgins. (2007). Influenza epidemic of 1918 to 1919).
Thankfully in both of these pandemics, most were aware of the situation; however, action did not always soon follow. In the case of the Spanish flu, there was no national recognition and only some cities observed a quarantine. In the case of Covid-19, a national stay at home order as well as a shutting down of nonessential businesses was issued, however, the speed at which this happened has been criticized, taking 3 months since the first case was reported. The stay at home order is being observed around the world and has resulted in a major crash in the stock market as well as a spike in the number of unemployment applications in the United States. This has put many Americans at financial risk as application phone lines for subsistence checks for food and supplies are flooded. Americans have become furious as this unseen killer ravages the world (Plenda, M. R. (2016). Pandemic preparedness. In K. L. Lerner (Ed.), Worldmark).
Credits:
Found in References