Epidemics and Pandemics

Charles Vidich is a consultant and adviser on public health and bioterrorism issues and was appointed a visiting scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health, working for 10 years on national quarantine policy.

Series Forward
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Guide to Health Literacy

Common Misconceptions about Epidemics and Pandemics
1. Epidemics are caused by highly communicable microbial agents
2. Epidemics are only caused by novel pathogens for which humans have no immunity
3. Pandemics are the result of the highly interconnected world we live in, where no country is more than 24 hours away from any other
4. Epidemics are only dangerous for people who are already unhealthy
5. More investment in vaccine research and development can prevent future epidemics

Questions and Answers
The Basics
1. What is an epidemic? What is a pandemic?
2. Which diseases are most likely to cause epidemics and pandemics?
3. Are there places on earth where epidemic diseases are more common?
4. Who decides when an epidemic has emerged and who decides when it’s over? What criteria are used to do so?
5. What have been the most lethal epidemics in recorded history?
6. Does climate change influence the prevalence of epidemic disease?
7. Which diseases pose the greatest threat to humanity?
8. Can future pandemics be prevented? How Epidemics and Pandemics Begin and Spread

How Epidemics and Pandemics Begin and Spread
9. How are epidemic diseases transmitted?
10. How do epidemic diseases spread?
11. How much of a pathogen is needed to create infection?
12. What is a basic reproductive number?
13. What is an incubation period and how can it affect the spread of an epidemic disease?
14. What is a disease’s infectious period and how can it influence an epidemic?
15. Why do diseases mutate over time, and how does this affect the spread of epidemics?
16. What factors increase susceptibility to epidemic disease?
17. What is a super-spreader and what role do they play in epidemics?
18. What does it mean to be asymptomatic, and can an asymptomatic person spread disease?
19. Is there a natural progression for an epidemic disease? Will an epidemic or pandemic eventually die out on its own?

Combatting Epidemics and Pandemics
20. In the United States, who is in charge of organizing a response to an epidemic?
21. What institutions are responsible for global responses to pandemics?
22. What is disease reporting and why is it important during an epidemic?
23. What is contact tracing and how does it reduce the spread of disease?
24. How do vaccines work? How effective are they?
25. How do researchers create vaccines for new diseases?
26. What non-pharmaceutical measures work to combat epidemics when effective vaccines or antibiotics don’t exist?
27. What is the difference between quarantine and isolation? How do they help combat epidemics?
28. What are universal public health precautions?
29. Do public health mandates to control human behavior work?
30. Covid-19 revealed political differences in the way pandemics are managed. Is this a new phenomenon?

Protecting Yourself during an Epidemic or Pandemic
31. Will past exposure to an epidemic disease protect against future exposures to that disease?
32. What personal choices influence exposure to disease?
33. What are the most effective ways to protect oneself when an epidemic or pandemic occurs?
34. Is handwashing effective for reducing exposure to epidemic diseases?
35. Can a face covering protect me from epidemic diseases?
36. Which surfaces should be cleaned to minimize the risk of infection, and what sort of cleaning products work best?
37. Does social distancing work to reduce exposure to epidemic diseases?
38. Are there dietary and exercise routines that improve immunity?
39. When someone in your household gets an epidemic disease, what precautions should be taken?
40. What lifestyle choices can improve mental health during an epidemic?
41. What are trustworthy organizations and sources of information to consult during an epidemic?
The Impact of Epidemics and Pandemics
42. Do epidemics affect certain groups of people more than others?
43. Can epidemics and pandemics lead to health problems even after they’ve officially ended?
44. In what other ways can an epidemic or pandemic negatively impact physical health?
45. How can an epidemic or pandemic affect individuals’ mental and social well-being?
46. How do pandemics affect the economy, politics, and culture?
47. How do epidemics and pandemics stigmatize certain people?

Case Studies
1. So Much for the 6-Foot Social Distancing Rule: The Tale of a Loudmouth and Captive Employee
2. Reports of “Mongolian Purple Plague” Spark Riots in the United States
3. A Smallpox Bioterrorism Event Closes New York City and Creates a Public Health Emergency
4. Spreading Monkeypox: The Extreme Burdens of Poverty and Limited Access to Health Care Services
5. Digital Breadcrumbs Expedite Contact Tracing during a Measles Outbreak

Glossary
Directory of Resources
Index