The course of human history has been shaped by infectious diseases, and the current crisis certainly won’t be the last time. HIV/AIDS (20th century)The first reported cases of HIV/AIDS in the Western world emerged in 1981. We now understand that people living with HIV infection who are on treatment are far less likely to develop serious complications. The HIV pandemic taught us about the value of a well-designed public health campaign, and the importance of contact tracing. We must be ever prepared for the emergence of another pandemic, and learn the lessons of history to navigate the next threat.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 16, 2020 19:41 UTC