Module 7

Angelica Garcia
P. Andrews
World History
Pandemic Paper
Pandemics are not rare but they appear irregularly in history. A pandemic is when there is a dangerous disease that has been spreading globally, and it affects everyone and everything directly or indirectly. Currently, the world is going through a pandemic but there have been many more pandemics that have occurred and are still occurring in the present day. For example, the pandemic of the Spanish Flu is one of history’s most famous pandemics, and had many deaths which is compared to the novel Coronavirus. However, there are also other pandemics that although they are a huge deal, they are silent. The HIV/AIDS pandemic was found very late into the 1900s but was not considered a pandemic until 2005. This pandemic is still considered ongoing however, there are new therapies and treatments today that slow and inhibit the virus from spreading at a faster rate inside of the host. Another pandemic that is the H2N2 virus that had a different origin but still was very deadly.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic was first identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. HIV stands for the human immunodeficiency virus. This virus is very deadly because it is considered to be an RNA to DNA virus.  HIV will enter a human host cell, take out part of its DNA and insert itself there for replicating and spreading across the  host body. HIV / AIDS was believed that first to be transmitted through homosexual relationships however the origin of the virus came from a monkey.  According to the Centers for Disease  control and protection, “ Since the first cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS were reported in 1981 infection with human immunodeficiency virus has grown to pandemic proportions resulting in an estimated 65 million infections and 25 million deaths” (n.a. n.p.). The numbers were sure to rise however there has been more awareness and education about HIV and AIDS and how it is spread. Many nonprofit organizations and those dedicated to help the overall Public Welfare have distributed needles clean ones and provided  Biohazard Waste baskets in order to decrease the amount of contamination between sharing needles.  Antiretroviral Therapies were made in order to stop the further progression of HIV spread within the body.  According to the United States Website solely dedicated to the HIV / AIDS pandemic, “ there were approximately 37.9 million people across the globe with HIV / AIDS in 2018. Of these 36.2 million were adults and 1.7 million were children.” (n.a. n.p.). These were too many lives taken in little time.

Another pandemic that would create a lot of chaos is the H2N2. This particular virus is an influenza virus.  The H2N2 virus was also known as influenza A virus.  The virus came from East Asia  and had an adopted nickname of “Asian flu”. According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention the virus had many deaths  and states, “ the estimated number of deaths was 1.1 million worldwide and  116,000 in the United States”  (n.a. n.p).   cases of the H2N 2 virus would first show up in Singapore, Hong Kong and the coastal cities of the United States. Although it did not all happen at once, it slowly spread within months of being found.  What makes us virus unique is that it emerged in the summer where many people believe that the influenza virus would be least likely to show up.  Although this virus did not claim as many lives as the HIV/AIDS pandemic or The Spanish Flu pandemic, it still killed 70,000 people. The antigenic drift is what made it hard to keep up with a vaccine are possible treatments to lessen the effects of the influenza virus.

My experience during this current pandemic has been a very difficult and unusual time.  I am more aware of those that  are immunocompromised or at heavier risk for Contracting covid-19.  It is harder to remember to take your mask out into public and not see many people. People will always assume that we will go back to normal after a few months however it is not possible.  The pandemic  although a horrible occurring event there is more hope and prosperity for a vaccine or treatment coming out faster as there is more scientific knowledge  and capabilities. it is harder to wait and know when that  vaccine or treatment may come out  but it is heavily worked on.  living with someone that works in the front lines is terrifying but also encouraging because they still wish to help  and be there   when the times are difficult to live by.

Works Cited
The Global HIV/AIDS Pandemic, 2006. (2006, August 11). Retrieved from 
Global Statistics. (2020, April 20). Retrieved May 12, 2020, from  
1957-1958 Pandemic (H2N2 virus). (2019, January 02). Retrieved May 12, 2020, from  

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