Introduction
A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease spreading across countries or globally. For example, COVID-19 and influenza outbreaks are pandemics that struck the world, affecting human lives. The influenza pandemic came in different forms, including H1N1, H2N2, and H3N2. Its mortality is associated with pregnancy, underlying conditions, and an individual’s age. On the other hand, the COVID-19 outbreak became a pandemic condition in 2019, with a very severe effect on the lives of people and the global economy. United States of America is amongst the areas highly affected by the COVID-19 and H2N1 pandemic, whereby; both outbreaks have some similarities, differences, and significance to the region.
Similarities Between H2N1 and COVID-19 Pandemic
H2N1 and COVID-19 pandemics share many similarities, including transmission mode, some symptoms, risk factors, and several complications. Both diseases can be transmitted similarly through respiratory droplets, aerosols, and contaminated objects (Dimca et al. 5). For example, when someone is infected with either COVID-19 or H2N1 virus sneeze, the droplets can be inhaled directly by another person or land on objects such as doorknobs and countertops. Hence, when someone touches the contaminated areas, they can get the disease if their hands touch their mouth, eyes, or nose before washing them. Another similarity between the two conditions is the mode of presentation, whereby most of the symptoms manifest the same in both cases (Kakodkar et al. 3). For example, a patient infected by either disease will present with fever and chills, fatigue, cough, headache, body aches, and pain.
Differences Between H2N1 and COVID-19 Pandemic
Although the H2N1 and COVID-19 pandemics appear similar in how they manifest, several differences make each condition unique from the other. The H2N1 pandemic resulted from the influenza virus, which its genetic material is composed of eight separate RNA strands. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic results from coronavirus, which consists of a single strand of RNA in its genetic material composition (Fong et al. 2). On the bases of contagiousness, H2N1 influenza is less contagious compared to COVID-19, meaning the latter can quickly spread between individuals. For example, individual suffering from COVID-19 can potentially transmit the virus to three other persons, while if someone has H2N1 influenza disease, they can pass it between one or two other people.
Significance of H2N1 and COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States
Apart from the H2N1 and COVID-19 pandemic negatively affecting the United States people, they also indirectly signified the research sector. Due to the sudden outbreak and massive loss of lives, researchers quickly acted in helping to find a cure or vaccine to curb the quick spread of the disease. After the H2N1 influenza pandemic outbreak, there was the establishment of five vaccines using similar technology used for seasonal flu vaccines, which the Food and Drug Administration then approved. Some of them include the Live Attenuated Influenza, Quadrivalent Influenza, High-Dose Flu, Adjuvanted Flu, and Cell-Based Flu vaccines. In the case of COVID-19, there has been authorization of several vaccines such as Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-Biotech, and Moderna (Lunn et al. 6). Therefore, an outbreak of the H2N1 and COVID-19 pandemic has played a crucial role in improving research centers through the establishment of modern technology and equipment.
Conclusion
COVID-19 and H2N1 pandemic has significantly impacted the lives of many people. Both pandemics have some similarities and differences, and also each has a particular significance to the people within a specific geographical region. Both pandemics are similar in different ways, such as how they manifest in individuals, the mode of transmission, the complications they cause, and the associated risk factors. Apart from similarity, they also vary in different aspects, such as contagiousness and genetic composition.
Works Cited
Dimka, Jessica, Taylor P. van Doren, and Heather T. Battles. “Pandemics, past, and present: The role of biological anthropology in interdisciplinary pandemic studies.” American Journal of Biological Anthropology (2022). Web.
Fong, Simon James, Nilanjan Dey, and Jyotismita Chaki. “An introduction to COVID-19.” Artificial intelligence for coronavirus outbreak. Springer, Singapore, 2021. 1-22. Web.
Kakodkar, Pramath, Nagham Kaka, and M. N. Baig. “A comprehensive literature review on the clinical presentation, and management of the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Cureus 12.4 (2020). Web.
Lunn, Michael P., et al. “COVID-19 vaccine and Guillain-Barré syndrome: let’s not leap to associations.” Brain (2020).