Documentary/Photo Essay
The story of the 1918 flu pandemic is a documentary posted on YouTube by CBS Sunday Morning on 8th March 2020. I chose it in the effort of finding information about epidemics that have previously affected the world and make a comparison to the current one of COVID-19. The new pandemic came as a shock to the current generation because a similar one occurred a century ago. The political leaders across the world seem clueless about how to secure the people from adverse health and economic effects. From that backdrop, I found it helpful to do research on previous pandemics and determine how people managed to contain it and restore normalcy.
The documentary begins by describing the current situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the state of Washington. The documentary is a comparison of the current situation and 1918. It contrasts the effects and measures taken by the government. The 1918 pandemic was fatal than the current one because it killed more than 650000 Americans and millions more across the world. Comparatively, some measures such as the closure of schools, worship places, and other public gatherings taken by the government today were also in effect at that time. The comparison is educative as it offers one with the lessons that the current regime in the US can learn from the containment that occurred in 1918. The narration is made with insights from some legendary experts to help in bringing facts to perspective.
The documentary is comprehensive in almost all ways. Still, it omits to make recommendations about what should be done by the current regimes to avoid deaths and suffering to the extent of 1918. It also fails to highlight the danger of putting more focus on the economic performance of a country than the health safety of the population. The current president is hurriedly asking for states to end lockdowns and open up economies without a clear plan on how people will be protected from more infections. After watching the documentary, one develops several questions, such as whether the current government is taking the correct steps to avoid the spread of the virus. One also wonders if the government ever refers to history while making decisions.
Pandemic Planning is a book written by Dietz, Eric J., and David R. Black. The authors are renowned experts with Eric being a professor of information technology (IT) and computer at Purdue University, and Black a professor of public health at the same institution. The literary work was published in 2012 by CRC Press. The authors state their objective as “making readers understand the threat of a pandemic and the importance of being prepared 6.” The book also expounds on the role of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC ) as having the responsibility to mobilize and create expertise, workforce, and strategy to boost community disease prevention 24. Therefore, it should be empowered by the government.
Epidemics and Society: From the Black Death to the Present is a book by Snowden, Frank M, who is a professor of medical history at Yale University. Yale University Press published the book in 2019. The book offers a historical perspective of how pandemics affect society. The author states that pandemics influence medical science, public health, religion, warfare, and other social aspects 2. He also claims that it is due to epidemics that themes such as medical therapy and mass hysteria 11. It is useful for reflectional purposes in the field of pandemics.
The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease is a book by Taylor Steven, a clinical psychologist at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Cambridge Scholars Published the book in 2019 and is insightful on the subject of pandemics. The author defines an epidemic as a large-scale infectious disease spread out across the world 3. He also states that behavioral methods and vaccinations, if available, are the best ways to stem further spread of a disease 12. The book is deeply insightful on the factors that can lead to a proliferation of a pandemic and its avoidance.
As a whole, writing the paper was an extraordinary opportunity to learn more about pandemics. New perspectives have been gained about their effects, spread, prevention, and management. The writing was also a chance to look at the subject from a historical perspective and learn what the current government should do. The information acquired has led to the realization that the current handling of COVID-19 by President Trump’s regime is incorrect. Profoundly, the government should give more focus on health safety than the economic performance of the country.
Works Cited
CBS Sunday Morning. “The story of the 1918 flu pandemic.” Online video clip. YouTube, 8 Mar 2020. Web. 2 May 2020.
Dietz, Eric J. and David R. Black. Pandemic Planning. CRC Press, 2012.
Snowden, Frank M. Epidemics and Society: From the Black Death to the Present. Yale University Press, 2019.
Taylor, Steven. The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease. Cambridge Scholars Publisher, 2019.