A PANDEMIC is an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people,” says a World Health Organization (who) bulletin. covid-19 has already spread to 27 countries and infected over 40,000 people. The past four pandemics were caused by the influenza (flu) virus, therefore the medical discourse has so far been only on flu pandemics. For the past two years, who has been listing pandemic as an important health challenge. “A pandemic of a new, highly infectious, airborne virus— most likely a strain of influenza—to which most people lack immunity, is inevitable. It is not a matter of “if” another pandemic will strike, but “when” it will strike,” who said this year.
This story is from the May 01, 2021 edition of Down To Earth.
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This story is from the May 01, 2021 edition of Down To Earth.
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