Events people witness in the twenty-first century look as they are entirely new: humanity’s progress in technology, economics, and society keep developing and have already reached the highest level of all times. However, there are still disastrous occasions leading to deaths, military conflicts, and environmental catastrophes. The brightest recent example is the COVID-19 pandemic, and although the disease is novel, humanity has already been through similar circumstances multiple times. The 1918 influenza, or the Spanish flu, spread can be a source of knowledge to deal with the recent event. World Health Organization (WHO) (2020) states that “both viruses are transmitted by contact, droplets, and fomites; the same public health measures, such as hand hygiene and good respiratory etiquette, are important actions to prevent infection” (para. 3). Modern policymakers, medics, and individuals can use history lessons to decrease the severity of the global illness spread.
As a historical event, the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic provides the 2020’s humanity with the practices to deal with the infection, shows what age groups are at risk, and teaches about the ways of the virus transmission. The COVID-19 morality level is higher than influenzas, and millions of people have already died from the former despite the high level of hygiene, medicine, and technology progress (WHO, 2020). Individuals would be more conscious of presentism if they were aware of what helped their ancestors to end the Spanish flu pandemic and how everyone can affect the worldwide infection spread. The suitable strategy was to share the comparison of COVID-19 to influenza more widely by the media from the pandemic’s beginning. Its deadly consequences would make people feel more responsible while applying preventative measures such as wearing masks and washing their hands.
Reference
World Health Organization. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Similarities and differences with influenza. Web.