Pandemics and epidemics: Past to present

Abstract

Pandemics and epidemics befall almost every decade. History documents pandemics since 430 BC. Each outbreak is suspected to be related to a minuscule creature which is new to the world or with a mutation. In recent years, viruses have caused multiple disease outbreaks leading to significant global public health menace. Although we have moved and reached new heights in modern scientific medicine, there remains a gap in understanding of environmental risk factors, disease pathogenesis and apt approach towards its management. This article outlines the major disease outbreaks that affected global proportions and had a marked impact on the human civilisation, starting with historical outbreak of plague, Spanish flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome, Ebola, Zika, Nipah and Middle East respiratory syndrome to the most recent coronavirus disease 2019.