Unlike most other natural disasters, pandemics are not geographically limited and the damage can be significantly mitigated by immediate response. As a result, there are strong global ethical and health needs for capacity building to detect and respond to pandemic threats, particularly in countries with low preparedness and high risk of sparks and spread. Severe pre-modern pandemics have been associated with major social and political upheavals triggered by large mortality shocks and the resulting demographic changes. In particular, deaths resulting from the introduction of smallpox and other diseases into the Americas led directly to the collapse of many indigenous societies and weakened indigenous peoples` military institutions and capabilities to the point that they became vulnerable to European conquest (Diamond 2009; see table 17.1). The pandemics that followed did not have such a dramatic impact on political and social stability, mainly because the potential mortality shock was mitigated by improved prevention and care. Emergency medical teams are also an important part of the global health workforce. These teams are well-trained and self-sustaining and are sent to locations designated as disaster or emergency areas. We must continue to stand together to address the greatest public health challenge of a generation. The Region`s strategy to control and suppress the spread, strengthen and sustain health services, and support each other to stay safe, healthy and healthy will help all countries save lives and minimize impact.
Our mission is clear. Our challenge is great. Moving forward together in the fight against COVID-19. Other environmental and demographic trends that may increase the severity of pandemics include the persistence of slums, inadequate health systems, higher prevalence of comorbidities, poor sanitation, and an aging population (Arimah 2010; UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2015). The growing threat of antibiotic resistance could also increase mortality during pandemics from bacterial diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera, and even viral diseases (especially influenza, where a significant proportion of deaths are often due to bacterial co-infections of pneumonia) (Brundage and Shanks, 2008; Van Boeckel et al., 2014). Cities marked by high inequality and a high concentration of the urban poor are potentially more vulnerable than those that are better equipped, less overcrowded and more equitable. The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently reported that pandemics often originate on the outskirts of cities. Viral outbreaks are often incubated and transmitted through peri-urban communities and suburban transportation corridors before spreading to the downtown core. Higher pollution levels in cities also cause damage to lungs and hearts, responsible for at least 7 million premature deaths a year. Residents with existing respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic bronchitis may be more susceptible to COVID-19 (OECD, 2020[73]).10 Since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, the World Bank has been helping developing countries cope with the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19.
The funds provided have helped low- and middle-income countries purchase and distribute COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments, and strengthen immunization systems. It also builds on the World Bank Group`s broader response to COVID-19, which is helping more than 100 countries strengthen their health systems, support the poorest households, and create conditions for sustainable livelihoods and jobs for those most affected. Most new pandemics are caused by “zoonotic” transmission of pathogens from animals to humans (Murphy, 1998; Woolhouse and Gowtage-Sequeria, 2005), and the next pandemic will likely also be a zoonosis. Zoonoses enter the human population from both domestic animals (such as breeding pigs or poultry) and wild animals. Many historically significant zoonotic diseases have been introduced through increased human-animal interaction after domestication, and potentially high-risk zoonotic diseases (including avian influenza) continue to emerge from livestock production systems (Van Boeckel et al., 2012; Wolfe, Dunavan, & Diamond, 2007). Some pathogens (including Ebola) have emerged from wildlife reservoirs and invaded the human population through hunting and consumption of game species (such as bushmeat), wildlife trade, and other wildlife contact (Pike et al. 2010; Wolfe, Dunavan, & Diamond, 2007). While today`s stage makes us think, it is time for all of us to unite in solidarity to fight this virus. History will judge us on the decisions we make, and don`t make, in the months ahead. Let`s seize the opportunity and cross national borders to save lives and livelihoods. The fight against COVID-19 has been going on for nearly two months, and the time given to people outside China to prepare for countermeasures was quickly shortened.
To date, we have found this to be one of the greatest human challenges in the fight against COVID-19 in history, as the causative agent of SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that differs from SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV in terms of biological properties and transmissibility [13]. On average, people in OECD countries typically spend only 6 hours a week socializing with friends and family.5 Although data on trends in this area are scarce, studies in 7 OECD countries suggest a worrying reduction of almost 30 minutes on average over the past decade (OECD, 2020[9]). In a context of narrow-mindedness or social distancing, the amount of time spent on face-to-face interactions with household members is likely to increase significantly, which could have a positive effect on family ties. However, as this does not happen solely by free choice, it could also exacerbate underlying national tensions – especially if it is prolonged over a longer period, livelihoods are threatened, or teleworking is combined with the need to be homeschooled and care for young children or elderly family members. A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads across countries or continents.