INFECTIOUS DISEASE: A PROBLEM FROM THE PAST TO THE FUTURE BY: GRENDULA, FELIZARDO T. As early as human civilization existed, illnesses such as cold, influenza, smallpox, and other infectious diseases became a part and problem in society. Not only did they become part of societal history, but they also became factors contributing to economic regression. In the past, people believed that the emergence of these diseases was unknown, until later, with the help of science, their causes were identified. Bacteria, protozoans, and viruses were among the sources of history’s widespread plagues, many of which originated from animals and then were transmitted to humans. With the identification of these infectious diseases' root causes, solutions and prevention measures were developed. Although these solutions did not completely eradicate these diseases, they at least minimized their spread and implemented preventive measures. Despite past experiences with plagues and health crises in society, humans still lacked the capability to fully control the emergence and spread of such diseases. Millions were funded to various scientific research institutions, yet different infectious diseases continued to occur in society. Even in today’s advanced age of science and technology, questions remained about what diseases would emerge in the next generation. Would there be a disease that could wipe out half of the world’s population? Were there vaccines or antibiotics available if such scenarios were to happen? Various diseases emerged throughout human history, from early plagues such as the bubonic plague and smallpox to present pandemic viruses such as Ebola and the latest COVID-19. Diseases were one of the factors contributing to the destruction of massive communities, alongside war and natural disasters. According to Beck (2018), infectious diseases also unintentionally caused both human death and suffering, leaving a mark on humanity. One example of the most indelible infectious diseases in human history was the “Black Death” plague, also known as the bubonic plague. The Black Death, a bacterial infectious disease originating from rats carrying infected fleas, resulted in a drastic reduction in Europe’s population and the collapse of the economic system at that time. During this period, medical technology was not advanced enough to produce antibiotics, contributing to the severity of the plague's impact. The Black Death served as a grim lesson on the effects of the emergence of infectious diseases. However, the question remained: Had we truly learned from this plague? After the occurrence of the Black Death plague, several infectious diseases continued to exist, including the Cholera pandemic, the second Bubonic plague, measles pandemic, malaria, and many others, some of which persisted to this day. These infectious diseases were identified to have multiple origins, whether viral, bacterial, or originating from protozoans (such as malaria). Despite past experiences, it appeared that humanity had not learned from these occurrences. Instead of decreasing, the number of diseases continued to rise, with new diseases emerging and re-emerging. Why were these infectious diseases re-emerging? According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Research Council, there were six factors that contributed to the re-emergence of infectious diseases: human demography and behavior, technology and industry, economic development and land use, international travel and commerce, microbial adaptation and change, and the breakdown of public health measures. Their study suggested that not only did humans adapt to changes in the environment, but diseases did as well. The identified factors of infectious disease re-emergence highlighted the possibility of any plague or disease rising at any point in time. One example proving the re-emergence of infectious disease was the second Bubonic plague, which also resulted in millions of deaths. These factors raised the question of how humanity could address this inevitable societal crisis. What measures had been taken to mitigate the occurrence or reemergence of these diseases? In today’s world, scientists and medical professionals were still working on ways to eradicate infectious diseases. One infectious disease that could be compared to previous plagues was the previous COVID-19 pandemic. This disease exhibited flu-like symptoms and could be transmitted through physical contact and the air. Although the mortality rate of COVID-19 was lower compared to previous pandemics, it was still considered as a serious threat. The rapid spread of this viral disease caused panic and disruption to both people and the economic system. Despite preventive measures being implemented, the number of infected people continued to increase. The disease, which began in late 2019, continued to spread globally until the present, damaging almost all aspects of society. Lives were lost, livelihoods were affected, schools were closed, travel and commerce were disrupted. The existence of this pandemic was considered as one of the darkest periods of humanity. People struggled to survive, and societal order may have collapsed. Infected areas became ghost towns, as observed in some provinces in China and parts of the Philippines, where people were not allowed to roam the streets, leaving them empty. Those who depended on daily wage basis faced starvation, leading to desperation and increased crime rates. At present, since the creation of the vaccines, the spreading of the virus declined and slowly the economy and the people are returning to its normal state, The countless lives lost from the pandemic marked a valuable lesson to humanity. REFERENCES: Beck, E. (2018, January 19). 10 Infectious Diseases That Changed History. Listverse. https://listverse.com/2018/01/19/10-infectious-diseases-that-changed-history/ Brachman, P. S. (2003). Infectious disease—Past, Present and Future. International Epidemiological Association. CNN. (n.d.). Deadly Diseases: Epidemics Throughout History. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2014/10/health/epidemics-through-history/ Globalization 101. (n.d.). Diseases and Human History. Retrieved from http://www.globalization101.org/diseases-and-human-history/ Whittaker-Dean, M. (n.d.). How Infectious Diseases Have Shaped Our Culture, Habits and Language. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/how-infectious-diseaseshave-shaped-our-culture-habits-and-language-75061 History.com Editors. (n.d.). Pandemics That Changed History. History. https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/pandemics-timeline
