(Snippets from the frontline)
COVID-19: History repeats itself
We were at war.
Yet, there was a second battle against an airborne virus plaguing the army as well as citizens. Those in charge quarantined solders, kept them isolated from communities, and inoculated as many as they could. Thirty percent of the population died.
In July, 1776, General George Washington was fighting for independence with his Continental Army attempting to keep a world scourge of smallpox away from his brave men.
This virus was an unknown entity, but even with rudimentary science, doctors knew once you were exposed, you developed immunity and would not get sick again. Inoculation of pox material into an incision would give you illness with the hope it would be only a “mild” case.
Today of course, medical knowledge is different, as we already mapped the viral structure of COVID-19. Despite this extraordinary scientific information, we must still utilize the same strident isolation rules of 1776.
History repeats itself, and as the revolutionary war for independence was won, this war can be won also.
Leadership, and a worthy plan by good scientists must be followed.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
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