Pandemics and their consequences – how the world will change after the outbreak of the coronavirus?

Today, it becomes clear that the pandemic coronavirus change our lives: in many countries discontinued operation of schools and educational institutions, canceled public events, closed to quarantine entire cities. As of March 16 officially registered 63 intrusion СоVID-19 and most likely, this is just the beginning. Pandemic as a global phenomenon, will affect everyone. Right before our eyes due to the outbreak of coronavirus streets of densely populated cities are empty, and the largest industrial enterprises is suspended. Experts – refusal meetings, trips and handshakes can become normal in the future. However, the consequences of a pandemic this will not be limited. But can we predict what awaits us?

the Spanish flu Pandemic

To imagine the consequences of a pandemic, let us remember the story. The Spanish influenza of 1918 was the last real global pandemic. Various health organization such as the world Health Organization (who), appeared after the Spanish flu (so-called Spanish flu). The Spanish flu killed at least 50 million . For comparison: in the years of the First world war, in the fighting killed 9 million people. Probably about 2-3% is infected with the Spanish flu eventually died, and most deaths were the result of complications such as pneumonia. The flu came in waves and most of the deaths occurred within a week after each flash. The last outbreak was registered in 1919, a year after this strain of flu was first identified.

The Flu has spread around the world because of the special circumstances in which it first arose: the First world war had just ended, the whole army was demobilized and the soldiers returned home sick. Subsequently, the outbreak spread along major transport routes. Because of war and famine a large part of the population was already weak and susceptible to infection. Worse still, the government was in no hurry to provide information and wartime censorship was in force.

Victims of Spanish flu were generally young people aged 15 to 40 years. In addition to these deaths, the impact of the flu had a serious long-term consequences for physical and mental health of many survivors. The pandemic also had a negative impact on the economy. The urban population was particularly susceptible to this strain of flu, partly because of environmental pollution. Recently, researchers that in the more polluted cities in 1918 and died much more people compared to the less polluted urban areas, demonstrating a direct link between air pollution and influenza virus. It is logical to assume that in the villages the death rate was even less.

Economic impact of a pandemic Spanish flu

Economic effects of 1918 was caused around the spread of influenza. A major American city, including new York and Philadelphia, in fact, closed for quarantine because the population was confined to bed. As now in Italy, bars, restaurants and shops were closed, sporting events cancelled, and private collections – including a funeral – is prohibited. The economic consequences of the Spanish flu include labor shortages and higher wages, and greater use of social security systems. As written , economic historians can't come to a consensus regarding the major figures of the lost GDP, as the effects of influenza difficult to separate from the effects of the First world war.

Farewell to the fallen because of the Spanish flu, 1918

Three lessons from the past epidemics

The Lessons of 1918, severe. One of the main reasons why pandemic of 1918 resulted in many victims, was the fact that at the beginning of the flash heads of state negligent attitude to the disease. Their actions are the result contributed to a more widespread flu. Probably, the main culprit was the repatriation (return) of the troops home. Today we know that the policy of the fight against infectious diseases works. Quarantine and isolation of cities, countries and people the best solution. So, scientists have discovered that American cities that have made efforts to reduce contacts between people in the beginning of the outbreak in 1918, had a much lower peak mortality rates than cities that later adopted a policy of quarantine.

The Second lesson is that awareness is the key to controlling pandemic. Today we see the terrible consequences of withholding information in the Iran – at the time of writing, the country recorded more than 14,000 cases and more than 700 deaths. We must not forget that the truth always comes out, hiding it, nothingto achieve.

The Third lesson indicates that we need to be ready for any consequences CoVID-19. This pandemic is both a shock to the supply and demand. Work associated with implementation of the recommended 14 days of self-isolation only for the alleged infected, will have serious economic consequences. Closing on quarantine of entire regions or countries, as recently did China and Italy will undoubtedly cause a recession – a slowdown of economic growth and the financial crisis.

What scientists say about the impact of the pandemic CoVID-19?

In January, the Professor of biology at the University of Pensilvania Massieu Boni – epidemiologist with eight years of experience in the field for The Conversation, wrote that in his opinion the reports about the death toll of the epidemic CоVID-19 in China do not reflect the real picture. Bonnie believes that mortality from new diseases always looks high in the early stages of the outbreak, so most likely, in the future the data will be reduced. However, after 8 weeks, the scientist has changed. Today, it is that evidence of a reduced mortality rate, may never come.

Remember that the mask should only be used if you are sick

mortality rate are calculated using officially reported figures, which include only those persons who a) symptoms; b) decide that their symptoms are serious enough to seek help; C) choose a hospital or clinic which can test for the presence of virus in the body.

Researchers from the London school of hygiene and tropical medicine, Imperial College London and the Institute for disease modeling, the mortality rate from infections. Obtained range from 0.5% to 0,94%, which indicates that CоVID-19 about 10-20 times more deadly than seasonal flu. Data obtained in another large-scale , consistent with the results obtained. The only potentially good news is that the epidemic in South Korea may ultimately show lower than the epidemic in China. a But truth to tell it has nothing beats real data from China and Italy.

case fatality rate from the infection (IFR) defines the probability of death of an infected person. The case fatality rate (CFR) defines the death probability of infected, who is seriously ill and may inform the doctors. CFR more than IFR because the people who went to the hospital, as a rule, seriously ill.

The consequences for the economy, writes with reference to the source, will be serious. In early March, Washington research Institute, Brookings, introduced the model scenarios that take into account all shocks to the global economy. The model is based on the model of a hypothetical influenza epidemic with a high mortality rate, which was established in 2006. Other forecasters used model of the global economy, taking into account mainly the trade and financial flows between countries and the international production chain (like the production of iPhones, which are actually joint U.S.-Chinese product).

It Should be noted that today both the epidemic and combat it outside of China are just beginning. For this reason, to accurately predict their magnitude is not yet possible, but it is clear that the consequences will be severe. So, the least likely scenario scientists believe soft option: quick wins, major damage will incur (or has incurred) China, and the recovery will take a few months. And the most probable developments named as variant of moderate severity: many countries will feel that after that was China, but paying a high price to stop the spread of the virus will succeed. The world economy will restore growth to the mid 2020 as the global recession is unlikely.

Disinfection inside buildings, including historic buildings in Italy, looks like this

However, the greatest concern is the fact that the most bad – catastrophic options – are considered seriously. Including those options that in large countries there are millions of victims (in Russia — a little less than a million), and the world economy goes into a deep recession.

What do the people of Italy about the quarantine?

As residents of Italy, the journalists of “Medusa”, the society is hard to realize the virus is invisible to an abstract threat. The speed of propagation of the coronavirus is such that can not withstand medical structures: in hospitals there is no place, no nurses, doctors. Shortage of ventilators condemns many to death, because one hundred vehicles, and 140 patients. In the capital, according to local residents, the situation looks like this: the banks, the post office, the supermarket is a long, sprawling queue: people kept at a distance of a meter from each other. The man at the entrance – too far away – in control of the situation and runs inside the visitors one by one. In the supermarket all the goods on the ground, in addition to means for disinfection of hands and napkins. Everything looks as usual, but people are very few buyerstry not to approach each other, quickly make your purchase and leave.

What to do now?

According to experts , what we need to prepare right now is to reduce the likelihood of coming in contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces – in any way possible. Some people will be less likely to leave the house. Others will follow a more stringent rules of hygiene. Extreme reduction of contact between people – including compulsory quarantine, rapid diagnosis and isolation as well as closure of workplaces and schools, apparently, worked in Hubei province in China, where the spread of the epidemic slowed down. In General, China had implemented measures have been effective, and the story once again reminds us that the best thing you can do during an epidemic is to stay home.

the Best thing you can do today to reduce the number of contacts with other people

In the meantime, the number of infected people in Russia is officially less than 100 people, you need to prepare for what the next 12 months will look different. Vacation may have to cancel a gym membership temporarily freeze. The world's epidemiologists are also advised to purchase necessities, including prescription and OTC drugs, cereal, canned goods and personal hygiene products. You also need to be ready in 2020, all social interactions will look differently. Moreover, because of population growth and climate change, future outbreaks of previously unknown diseases may be a common phenomenon.

Unfortunately, the situation is that the pandemic coronavirus does not go out by itself. It is not somewhere in another country and it's not colds and flu. For a pandemic must be taken seriously right now to avoid the worst consequences. Be well.

Many experts believe that we need to get used to outbreaks of new diseases – they will occur more often