Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Multipronged Approach to Combat COVID-19: Lessons from Previous Pandemics for the Future

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Integrated Science of Global Epidemics

Part of the book series: Integrated Science ((IS,volume 14))

Summary

Since China confirmed the first novel Coronavirus case of the 21st Century in December 2019, COVID-19, the highly contagious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has spread quickly to 213 countries and territories. Most similar to the 20th-century influenza pandemic in 1918–1919, the present COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major ongoing worldwide public health crisis. Countries have adopted various stringent control measures to slow the virus’s rapid spread, such as border closures, lockdowns, and travel restrictions. Unprecedented global efforts have generated over 150 different COVID-19 vaccine candidates [1]. However, designing vaccine efficacy trials is a very complicated process by given the shifting distribution of new COVID-19 cases. Vaccine development also faces many other challenges, such as SARS-CoV-2 mutation, potential side effects, and public acceptance of the vaccines ultimately produced. Since the 1918–1919 flu pandemic, scientists have learned much about pandemics, mainly from advances in epidemiological models for influenza and progress in influenza pandemics models. To prevail against COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for early detection, virus testing, and isolation measures [2]. What is the best strategy to combat the highly contagious, often debilitating, or deadly COVID-19 virus? A review of past pandemics lessons reveals multiple determinants that influence pandemic outcomes: virus detection, diagnostic testing, contact tracing, social distancing, isolation, therapeutics, vaccines, transparent communication, healthcare authorities, and pandemic decision-making. This Chapter proposes a multipronged approach that first combines these determinants and then examines how we can take a multipronged approach against the COVID-19.

Graphical Abstract/Art Performance

A diagram depicts the ways to combat Covid-19. The ways are fast extensive testing, contact tracing technology, restrictive public health measures, healthcare technology and treatments, and healthcare policy and communication.

A multipronged approach to combat COVID-19.

The code of this chapter is 01100001 01,101,001 01,101,101 01,100,011 01,101,110 01,100,100 01,110,011 01,010,000 01,100,101.

Health is a state of complete mental, social and physical well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

The World Health Organization, 1948

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gates B (2020) Responding to COVID-19—a once-in-a-century pandemic? N Engl J Med 382:1677–1679

    Google Scholar 

  2. WHO (2020a) WHO coronavirus disease (COVID-19) dashboard. https://covid19.who.int/. Accessed 22 June 2020

  3. The World Bank (2020) The global economic outlook during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2020/06/08/the-global-economic-outlook-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-a-changed-world. Accessed 13 July 2020

  4. Buckee C (2020) Improving epidemic surveillance and response: big data is dead long live big data. Lancet 2(5):E218–E220

    Google Scholar 

  5. Moradi H, Vaezi A (2020) Lessons learned from Korea: COVID-19 pandemic. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1–2. Advance online publication

    Google Scholar 

  6. Son B, South-Winter C (2018) Human behavior impacts on health care. J Int & Interdiscip Bus Res 5(8):138–146

    Google Scholar 

  7. WHO (2003a) Consensus document on the epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Dep Commun Dis Surveill Response. https://www.who.int/csr/sars/WHOconsensus.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 14 July 2020

  8. WHO (2020b) Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/draft-landscape-of-covid-19-candidate-vaccines. Accessed 8 July 2020

  9. Lurie N, Saville M, Hatchett R, Halton J (2020) Developing COVID-19 vaccines at pandemic speed. N Engl J Med 382:1969–1973

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Carter L et al (2020) Assay techniques and test development for COVID-19 diagnosis. ACS Cent Sci 6(5):591–605

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Shuren J (2020) Coronavirus (COVID-19) update. U.S. FDA. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-facilitating-diagnostic-test-availability-asymptomatic-testing-and. Accessed 12 July 2020

  12. Saunders-Hastings P, Krewski D (2016) Reviewing the history of pandemic influenza: understanding patterns of emergence and transmission. Pathogens 5(4):66

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Hatchett R, Mecher C, Lipsitch M (2007) Public health interventions and epidemic intensity during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Proc Natl Acad Sci 104(18):7582–7587

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Morse SS (2007) Pandemic influenza: studying the lessons of history. Proc Natl Acad Sci 104(18):7313–7314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Coburn B, Wagner B, Blower S (2009) Modeling influenza epidemics and pandemics: insights into the future of Swine Flu (H1N1). BMC Med 7:30

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Markel H, et al (2007) Nonpharmaceutical Interventions Implemented by U.S. Cities during the 1918–1919 influenza pandemic. J Am Med Assoc 298(6):644–654

    Google Scholar 

  17. Morens D, Fauci A (2007) The 1918 influenza pandemic: insights for the 21st century. J Infect Dis 195(7):1018–1028

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Cobos A et al (2016) Mortality and transmissibility patterns of the 1957 influenza pandemic in Maricopa County, Arizona. BMC Infect Dis 16:405

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Henderson D, Courtney B, Inglesby T, Toner E, Nuzzo J (2009) Biosecurity and bioterrorism: biodefense strategy. Pract Sci 7(3):265–273

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Biggerstaff M, Cauchemez S, Reed C et al (2014) Estimates of the reproduction number for seasonal, pandemic, and zoonotic influenza: a systematic review of the literature. BMC Infect Dis 14:480

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Viboud C et al (2016) Global mortality impact of the 1957–1959 influenza pandemic. J Infect Dis 213(5):738–745

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Jackson C (2009) History lessons: the Asian flu pandemic. Br J Gen Pract: J R College Gen Pract 59(565):622–623

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Jester B, Uyeki T, Jernigan D (2020) Fifty years of influenza A(H3N2) following the pandemic of 1968. Am J Public Health 110(5):669–676

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Cockburn WC, Delon PJ, Ferreira W (1969) Origin and progress of the 1968–69 Hong Kong influenza epidemic. Bull World Health Organ 41(3):345–348

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ortiz J et al (2012) Pandemic influenza in Africa, lessons learned from 1968: a systematic review of the literature. Influ Other Respir Viruses 6(1):11–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Tognotti E (2013) Lessons from the history of quarantine, from plague to influenza a. Emerg Infect Dis 19(2):254–259

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Finelli L, Swerdlow D (2013) The emergence of influenza a (H3N2) virus: what we learned from the first wave. Clin Infect Dis 57(Suppl. 1):S1–S3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Epstein J et al (2007) Controlling pandemic flu: the value of international air travel restrictions. PLoS One 2(5):e401

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Chowell G et al (2004) Model parameters and outbreak control for SARS. Emerg Infect Dis 10(7):1258–1263

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Low D (2004) SARS: lessons from Toronto. In: Knobler S, Mahmoud A, Lemon S, et al (eds) SARS: preparing for the next disease outbreak: workshop summary. National Academies, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  31. Lee J, McKibbin W (2004) Estimating the global economic costs of SARS. In: Knobler S, Mahmoud A, Lemon S, et al (eds) SARS: preparing for the next disease outbreak: workshop summary. National Academies, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lee B, Haidari L, Lee M (2013) Modelling during an emergency: the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. Clin Microbiol Infect 19(11):1014–1022

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. WHO (2003b) Key step forward on international health rules. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2003/prwha7/en/. Accessed 15 July 2020

  34. CDC (2010) The 2009 H1N1 pandemic: summary highlights. https://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/cdcresponse.htm. Accessed 5 July 2020

  35. Akin L, Gözel MG (2020) Understanding dynamics of pandemics. Turk J Med Sci 50(SI-1):515–519

    Google Scholar 

  36. Wilson N, Kvalsvig A, Barnard L, Baker M (2020) Case-fatality risk estimates for COVID-19 calculated by using a lag time for fatality. Emerg Infect Dis 26(6):1339–1441

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Sun J et al (2020) COVID-19: epidemiology, evolution, and cross-disciplinary perspectives. Trends Mol Med 26(5):P483-495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Servick K (2020) COVID-19 contact tracing apps are coming to a phone near you: how will we know whether they work? Science. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/countries-around-world-are-rolling-out-contact-tracing-apps-contain-coronavirus-how. Accessed 10 July 2020

  39. Pressman A (2020) Apple and Google’s coronavirus contact tracing system gains more participants across the globe. Fortune. https://fortune.com/2020/07/08/apple-google-coronavirus-tracing-app-technology-participants-countries/. Accessed 11 July 2020

  40. Park S, Choi G, Ko H (2020) Information technology-based tracing strategy in response to COVID-19 in South Korea—privacy controversies. J Am Med Assoc 323(21):2129–2130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Kolifarhoo G et al (2020) Epidemiological and clinical aspects of COVID-19; a narrative review. Arch Acad Emerg Med 8(1):e41

    Google Scholar 

  42. Chu D et al (2020) Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 395(10242):1973–1987

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Charlton H, Lua L (2017) Platform technologies for modern vaccine manufacturing. Vaccine 35(35):4480–4485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Furukawa N, Brooks J, Sobel J (2020) Evidence supporting transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 while presymptomatic or asymptomatic. Emerg Infect Dis 26(7). Early Release

    Google Scholar 

  45. Khachfe H et al (2020) An Epidemiological study on COVID-19: a rapidly spreading disease. Cureus 12(3):e7313

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Tumpey A, Daigle D, Nowak G (2018) Communicating during an outbreak or public health investigation. https://www.cdc.gov/eis/field-epi-manual/chapters/Communicating-Investigation.html. Accessed 14 July 2020

  47. Bauch C, D’Onofrio A, Manfredi P (2012) Behavioral epidemiology of infectious diseases: an overview. Model Interplay Hum Behav Spread Infect Dis 1–19

    Google Scholar 

  48. WHO (2020c) More than 150 Countries Engaged in COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/15-07-2020-more-than-150-countries-engaged-in-covid-19-vaccine-global-access-facility. Accessed 20 July 20 2020

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Akio Morita School of Business, Anaheim University, 1240 South State College Blvd, Anaheim, CA, 92806, USA

    Barbara W. K. Son

Authors
  1. Barbara W. K. Son
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barbara W. K. Son .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Stockholm, Sweden

    Nima Rezaei

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Son, B.W.K. (2023). A Multipronged Approach to Combat COVID-19: Lessons from Previous Pandemics for the Future. In: Rezaei, N. (eds) Integrated Science of Global Epidemics. Integrated Science, vol 14. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17778-1_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation