This post is informative about the pandemic and how you can prepare yourself.
This is a long article!
I believe I owe it to myself and to you, my reading audience, to share any current issues that may pose a threat to our lives.
I therefore felt it was my responsibility to read as much as possible about the recent coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak and to share that information with you.
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Is COVID-19 Truly a Global Pandemic Disease?
What is the truth about coronavirus?
Is the information that we are getting from the mainstream media, WHO, and other health organizations the truth?
Who should we trust? Should we trust the information from the government or social media theories?
We live in a time when deception is widespread, and people are willing to sacrifice their souls for money and fame.
But the questions that are uppermost in our mind are:
Will there be a worldwide outbreak of coronavirus?
Note that on March 14, 2020, the WHO declared nCoV a global pandemic disease due to the alarming rate of increase and the inadequate precautionary measures of many countries.
As of the above date, there were more than 140,000 cases in over 114 countries, and 5,000 people have lost their lives.
Will this outbreak cause a collapse in the economy?
Will there be a global shortage of food and medical supplies?
What about traveling, will there be a decline in worldwide traveling?
And most importantly, how do you prepare for a global pandemic?
What is a Pandemic Disease?
According to wikipedia.org, a pandemic disease is an epidemic disease that has spread worldwide.
Throughout history, there have been a number of pandemic diseases that have killed millions of people and drastically reduced the world population.
I will give you detailed information about one of these pandemic diseases and mention some of the other pandemic diseases throughout history.
You will notice that the origin of this disease, the spread of this disease and its economic and social effects worldwide are similar to this new strain of coronavirus that is currently threatening the world.
As you know, history repeats itself so it is good to learn from the past.
The Black Death/Plague or the Great Plague
The black death or the great plague that swept across the world from 1347 to 1351 killed 75 to 200 million people thus becoming one of the deadliest pandemics in the world.
It was believed to be caused by the bacterium yersinia pestis that results in the bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic plagues.
At the time they believed that the plague originated in central or east Asia (China) and traveled the silk route.
The silk route was a network of historic trade routes that connects the East and West. It began in China where the silk was manufactured then traveled to India, Persia, Arabia, Greece, and Italy.
The plague followed this route across the Mediterranean ports where it spread inland to North Africa, Italy, Spain, France, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Germany, London, Scotland, Scandinavia, and the Baltic countries.
The only two countries that escaped the plague were Iceland and Finland. Possibly, due to their small population size.
The plague reduced the world population from 475 million to 340-375 million in the 14th century.
By 1348, the plague spread across Europe killing 30 to 60 percent of Europeans.
The health authorities at that time claimed that the disease was spread by infected rodents and fleas.
The plagues caused swollen infected lymph nodes called buboes in the groin, neck, and armpit. They would ooze pus and blood.
When the cells of the body die as a result of the infection, it becomes black, and then death is inevitable. Hence the name Black Death.
Patients would show symptoms of fever, vomiting blood, and other serious respiratory problems. Most victims died two to seven days after the initial infection.
How did this plague affect the economy?
Lack of labor due to population decline so wages soar for mainly artisans and peasants.
A decline in trading; a reduction in the land under cultivation due to shortage of labor so landowners were badly affected.
How did the plague affect the environment?
Historians believed that the vast amount of deaths cooled the climate by freeing up land and triggering reforestation and may have led to the little ice age (period of cooling).
Social effect
Religious persecutions occurred.
Some people blamed foreigners, pilgrims, beggars, and jews for the spread of the disease.
People with minor skin diseases such as acne and psoriasis were killed in Europe.
Some people believed that the plague was a punishment from God and so heretics and Jews were severely persecuted and killed.
Some people even whipped themselves as penance, thinking that God was punishing them (flagellants).
Many people abandoned their sick relatives and flee to the countryside and other places. Shortage of health workers and medical supplies.
Treatment
Historical reports stated:
“Physicians relied on crude and unsophisticated techniques such as bloodletting and boil-lancing (practices that were dangerous as well as unsanitary) and superstitious practices such as burning aromatic herbs and bathing in rosewater or vinegar. Meanwhile, in a panic, healthy people did all they could to avoid the sick. Doctors refused to see patients; priests refused to administer last rites, and shopkeepers closed their stores. Many people fled the cities for the countryside, but even there they could not escape the disease: It affected cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens as well as people.” (History.com)
By 1350 the black death had run its course. People became aware that the unsanitary condition increased the spread of the disease so steps were taken to clean up the streets, improving the infrastructures and adopting healthy hygiene.
However, the disease erupted several other times from 1374-75; 1390; 1400; 1669-71.
Other Deadly Global Pandemic Diseases
- Spanish flue in 1918, which began in Kansas and spread globally killing 15 million people.
- 1981 HIV/AIDS pandemic that killed about 35 million people worldwide.
- Smallpox made its appearance in northeastern Africa around 10,000 B.C.E. However, evidence showed that smallpox lesions were found in ancient Egyptians mummies. Smallpox ravaged the world for over twelve thousand years up to the twentieth century when it was eradicated. It killed an estimated 300-500million people.
- The First Cholera pandemic in 1817 began in Calcutta, India and other subsequent breakouts in 1860 believed to kill approximately 15 million people. This disease was spread following the trade route from India to the rest of the world.
Other epidemic diseases from the coronavirus strain – 2002 SARS in China and 2012 MERS in Saudi Arabia. Read more about these two diseases here.
The Coronavirus
Reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) & Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
What is Coronavirus?
First of all, Coronavirus (CoV) is not a new virus that just appeared last year.
I noted that some people did know this fact and so became alarmed when they read on the container of Lysol disinfectant spray that it kills the human coronavirus.
The CoV causes illness ranging from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe AcuteRespiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
The Coronavirus (nCoV or COVID-19) is a new strain of the virus that was only identified in animals such as cats, bats, camels, civet cats, pangolin, camels.
They claimed that there are other types of coronavirus that are found in animals but not in humans.
It is not certain how nCoV was transmitted to humans. Many people on social media have their theories and it is good to read some of them and pick sense out of nonsense.
The first sign of this disease in humans was found in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
Reports are that the disease began in Wuhan wet markets. These markets slaughtered wild animals that are illegally imported from all over the world, for food.
These animals were uprooted from their natural environment and placed under insanitary conditions in the markets.
They are forced to be among other animals that they do not usually mingle with and so, of course, this helps to breed cross infections.
They suspect that the virus was released from the pangolin and bats during slaughtering and attached to the handlers.
One person stated on the 60-minute report that nCoV is nature’s revenge against humans for uprooting these wild animals from their natural habitats and slaughtering them.
There are other theories that suggest that this virus was released from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
A New York Post reported: The coronavirus may have leaked from a lab.
The nature of this disease and the rate of how it is spreading is quite alarming.
One Italian medical doctor stated on Channel 4 News that the rate at which the virus spread on Italy was as if a bomb had exploded suddenly in Milan.
However, he stated that the disease is worst than a bomb because its effect is increasing instead of decreasing.
Are we in the middle of world war three?
The Chinese who are slowly recovering from the disease is casting the blame on the US Military.
The Signs of Infection
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore Throat
- Shortness of Breath
- Nasal Congestion
- Runny Nose
These are similar to the symptoms of a common cold. The symptoms can escalate to severe respiratory syndrome, bacterial infection, pneumonia, kidney failure, and even death.
The incubation period for this disease is 1-14 days. Some people are carriers of the virus and may not show any symptoms but can pass on the disease.
How is the Coronavirus Spread?
Like the common cold, it spreads through droplets from coughing and sneezing, but it is not an airborne disease.
You can catch this disease by touching the infected surfaces. It is believed that the virus can survive on surfaces for a few hours and up to several days.
The virus on metal surface lives for twelve hours. On fabrics, it lives for nine hours and on the hands, it lives for ten minutes.
The good news is that the virus does not remain in the air but settles on surfaces. It is believed that when exposed to temperatures of 26- 27 degrees Celsius, the virus will be killed. (More evidence needed)
It does not live in the hot regions and when exposed to sunlight.
Who is at Risk for Infection?
According to the reports, the people who are at high risk for this particular strain of the virus are people older than sixty, those with underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems, and diabetes.
Children are at low risk for the disease and most healthy adults who contracted the disease will recover.
Preventative Measures
We all know that prevention is better than cure. Therefore, ensure that you read as much as you can about this disease and how to prevent yourself from catching it.
Eat healthy food and exercise often to build your immune system.
Take vitamin supplements such as B12 and Vitamin C.
Regular hand-washing and the use of hand sanitizers.
Cover mouth and nose when coughing with your sleeve or a disposable towel and not with your bare hands.
Avoid crowded areas.
Avoid unnecessary contact with sick or dead animals.
Clean and sanitize your house and yard.
Practice good personal hygiene.
Cook meat and food thoroughly before eating.
Before traveling, check your local travel advisory.
If you have to travel, ensure that you walk with disinfectant wipes to clean areas that you will be using at the airports, inside the airplanes, and at the hotels.
Gargling with warm salt water can kill the germs and prevent it from leaking to your lungs.
Get plenty of sunlight and avoid touching your face.
If you show any signs of the infection seek medical attention immediately and share travel information with health care providers.
Learn more about how to protect yourself here.
What is Being Done to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19?
There is no known cure for the disease and no vaccine is currently identified. However, scientists are actively working on a vaccine.
According to the CDC:
Clinical management includes prompt implementation of recommended infection prevention and control measures and supportive management of complications, including advanced organ support if indicated. (CDC.gov)
Mortality rate increases when patients developed complications and have to be placed on ventilation and admitted in the Intensive Care Unit.
Read how doctors treat the sickest patients with nCoV. (Washington Post)
The WHO is providing online training as a weapon to fight the disease.
The health organizations have put in place travel advisories on their websites and they are encouraging people to stay home if they are ill.
CDC issued a level three travel alert to the countries in red.
Quarantine of suspected patients with the disease. China has locked down the city of Wuhan and then the entire country as the disease spread.
As of the date of this article, 80,824 people contracted the disease in China and 3,199 died. The good news is that 66,911 patients have recovered.
United Nations released 15 million dollars to help vulnerable countries battle the spread of Coronavirus.
Countries all over the world are educating their people about this disease and putting in place preventative measures.
The entire country of Italy is under lockdown since March 9th as the nCoV cases increased to 21,157 with 1,411 deaths. Only 1,966 patients have recovered so far in Italy.
China banned wildlife trading and closed down Wuhan Wet Market on January 1, 2020. Unfortunately, there are other wet markets still in operation in other Asian countries.
Airports around the world are screening passengers and restricting travel to countries with level three alert.
March 11, 2020, the president of the USA suspended all travel from Europe (except UK) to the USA for thirty days.
March 13, 2020, WHO, UN Foundation and partners launched COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to help countries in their response measures to the disease. So far they have received $102,633,419.
The Truth About the Pandemic & Pandemic Diseases
1. Pandemic diseases are usually spread following the trading route from the country of origin.
The increase in world traveling now plays a major role in the spread of pandemic disease. It is believed that the worldwide spread of nCoV occurred after China’s New Year’s festival that began on January 25, 2020.
Note that the theme was the year of the rat. If nCoV actually originated from the bats or other creatures of this nature, then it appeared as if China released a curse over their country.
Note that Coronavirus has spread to over 151 countries and territories across all the continents except Antarctica, and a cruise ship.
2. Pandemic diseases result in Global fear and panic.
As reports of the spread of coronavirus in more parts of the world are released, people will become fearful.
There will be a panic rush on food and medical supplies as people stockpile.
The fear of infection will result in premature closure of schools, commercial establishments, transportation, and public services.
3. Pandemics affect the global economy and trading negatively.
When workers stay home there will be a loss of productivity.
Research has shown that the yearly cost of pandemic influenza is roughly $500 billion or 0.6% of global income.
However, pharmaceutical companies will obviously benefit from pandemic diseases. There will also be price gouging in food and household supplies.
4. Global panic on stock markets.
Since the nCoV outbreaks, the stock market has been declining. If people panic and begin to sell their stocks there will definitely be an economic crash.
5. Pandemic diseases place a burden on the infrastructure of the health system.
Hospitals will run out of supplies and health workers will be overworked, leading to increased medical mistakes.
Should a Child of God Fear Pandemics?
God gave man the authority to control and subdue the earth (Genesis 1:26-28).
Do you think that humans are doing a good job so far? Or are they manipulating the earth’s resources to gain social and economic power?
The evidence around you will reveal the facts.
A child of God should never fear or panic in the event of a pandemic disease because God has not given you the spirit of fear but of love power and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
Above all, God will never leave Himself without a witness to His goodness and mercy.
Therefore, many people will be spared from this disease.
Biblical evidence showed that the Israelites were spared from the ten plagues that God sent on the Egyptians (Exodus 8-12).
Historical evidence showed that two countries – Finland and Iceland were spared from the black plague.
You can be a part of the group that is spared from any approaching pandemic.
You can escape by following the first principle that says prevention is better than cure.
Be prepared by becoming knowledgeable about this disease and following all the safety guidelines provided by your doctor or reputable health organizations.
Best of all, remain sheltered in the secret place of God where you will be protected by God (Psalms 91).
Be wise and alert!
The Bible said that when you are sick you should call for the elders who will pray for you and anoint you with oil (James 5:14).
It is advisable that you keep a bottle of olive oil in your home, blessed it and use it to anoint yourself and family daily.
Always be prepared by storing non-perishable food and water to avoid panic shopping in the event of a global outbreak of disease.
As more news is released, I will update you in future posts.
Don’t forget to share in the comment section links to additional information that you have.
Stay calm and pray!
Other References
- History.com
- Infoplease
- Time.com
- Wikipedia.com
- Investopedia.com
- Black death
- Britanica.com
- 60-minute Report
- International Monetary Fund – epidemics and economics.
- Impact on pandemic diseases – NCBI
- UNICEF
- Coronavirus latest update
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