The History of the Pandemic

By Catherine Rose

Despite our increased global mobility meaning pandemics are potentially more likely, diseases have been crossing country borders for centuries. One of the earliest pandemics, the Justinian plague, began in 500 AD, spreading from Egypt into Palestine, the Byzantine Empire and then Europe. Similar to bubonic plague, it killed twenty-six per cent of the world’s population – around five hundred million – thwarting Roman Emperor Justinian’s plans to revitalise the Roman Empire. 1347 saw the first wave of the Black Death, a pneumonic form of bubonic plague – one of the most devastating pandemics in human history. Originating in Asia, it is likely to have travelled along the Silk Route and then by ship into Europe. It is believed, as with later outbreaks, that it was spread via fleas contaminated with the yersinia pestis bacteria. The disease is estimated to have killed hundreds of millions of people worldwide and up to sixty per cent of the population in Europe. Characterised by a fever and buboes, the Black Death could kill within hours. Whole villages were wiped out and in cities people were confined to their homes, a cross marking the door to indicate if they had the plague within. Carts were piled high with bodies as people were ordered to ‘bring out their dead’. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that the bacteria were discovered. At the time, it was believed that the plague was caused by miasma or ‘bad air’. It was even thought that the illness could jump out of a dead man’s eyes and infect a healthy person. Many believed that sinners were being punished. Groups of flagellants took to the streets, whipping themselves to appease an angry God. What a strange sight that would be to us today! The Black Death lasted until 1352 and had huge economic and social repercussions. Instances of bubonic plague returned over the following centuries. In 1665, the Great Plague of London spread from ports along the Thames and

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killed twenty per cent of its population. As has happened more recently in China, it was believed that cats and dogs were spreading the disease and many were slaughtered. The term ‘quarantine’ was coined in Venice referring to a period of forty days – the optimum time necessary for the spread of an epidemic to be contained. Cities that implemented quarantines were found to be less affected by fast-transmitting diseases. The first of several cholera pandemics began in Russia in 1815. Acquired through contaminated water and food, the British Army unwittingly spread this serious bacterial illness across the British Empire. Eventually India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, Italy, Germany and America all succumbed to the pandemic. Millions of people died from the rapidly fatal effects of the disease which causes severe diahorreah and dehydration. Another outbreak occurred during the Crimean War between 1853 and 1856. Nurse Florence Nightingale became famous at this time for her tireless efforts to improve unsanitary conditions. A vaccine was created in 1885. Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, is one of the most devastating diseases. Various outbreaks have occurred over the centuries with the earliest believed to have been as far back as 10,000 BC. During the twentieth century alone, smallpox was responsible for up to five hundred million deaths worldwide. It was finally declared by WHO to be eradicated in 1980. The fact that COVID-19 originated in animals is one of the reasons it has been taken so seriously. However, it is not the first pandemic virus to do so. The Spanish flu, which struck worldwide during

1918/19, is believed to have started in birds. Unlike regular flu, the illness targeted healthy young people more than it struck the old. With this particular strain, it is thought to be due to older people having built up more immunity over the course of their life. Although nicknamed the Spanish flu, it first appeared in Kansas, America in 1918. Due to World War I, many European countries had news blackouts and initial announcements of the disease came from Madrid, which led to people believing it had begun in Spain. Its arrival towards the end of the war meant it spread rapidly in the unsanitary and confined conditions of the trenches. And it came at a devastating time when populations had already been decimated. This particularly deadly flu primarily attacked the lungs, leading to severe bronchial pneumonia. It infected a third of the world’s population and resulted in around fifty to one hundred million deaths. During its year-long reign, public places were closed and people told to wear masks, self-isolate and not shake hands. At the time it was believed to be caused by bacteria; much smaller viruses were only discovered later. India was one of the worst affected countries due to the high number of people living in close proximity there. Tasmania closed its borders early and implemented a strict quarantine period – as a result the pandemic was mildest by comparison. Today, we are better informed about the spread of disease, our lives are more sanitary and scientists can more easily predict outcomes and implement strategies that contain it. Stay safe and well.

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