Can we eradicate the novel coronavirus? Here’s what American doctors say.

JIMMIE JOHNSON:

WILL COVID-19 EVER GO AWAY COMPLETELY? THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO. BUT BEFORE YOU PANIC, LET ME EXPLAIN.

A GROWING NUMBER OF HEALTH EXPERTS SAY COVID-19 WILL MOST LIKELY BE WITH US THE REST OF OUR LIVES, INCLUDING ONE DOCTOR WE ALL KNOW TOO WELL…DR. ANTHONY FAUCI. BUT FIRST, IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PANDEMIC, AN EPIDEMIC AND ENDEMIC.

AS OF NOW, COVID-19 IS A PANDEMIC, WHICH IS A DISEASE THAT SPREADS AROUND THE WORLD, AFFECTING MANY PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME. THAT’S DIFFERENT FROM AN EPIDEMIC, WHERE THE DISEASE IS CONCENTRATED IN SEPARATE COUNTRIES OR REGIONS. THEN, THERE’S ENDEMIC, WHICH IS LESS SEVERE. IT CAN BE A DISEASE THAT’S SEASONAL OR REGIONAL, LIKE THE FLU. THAT’S WHY THE FLU SEASON IN NORTH AMERICA IS DIFFERENT THAN FLU SEASON IN ASIA. 

SO THAT’S PANDEMIC, EPIDEMIC AND ENDEMIC. BUT THERE’S ANOTHER POSSIBILITY – ERADICATION – WHERE THE DISEASE IS WIPED OUT COMPLETELY. THAT’S ONLY HAPPENED WITH ONE HUMAN VIRUS. CAN YOU GUESS WHICH ONE? 

THE ANSWER IS SMALLPOX, WHICH WAS ERADICATED FROM THE GLOBE IN 1980, ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. WHILE YOU SELDOM HEAR ABOUT POLIO AND MUMPS, THEY ARE STILL PRESENT IN CERTAIN AREAS.  

SO NOW THE QUESTION WE STARTED WITH: WILL COVID-19 EVER GO AWAY COMPLETELY? WILL IT REMAIN A PANDEMIC FOREVER? AN EPIDEMIC? ENDEMIC? OR WILL IT BE ERADICATED? THE MOST LIKELY ANSWER ACCORDING TO DR. FAUCI: ENDEMIC.

FAUCI SAYS, “IT IS UNLIKELY. AT LEAST NOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BECAUSE IT’S SO WIDESPREAD.” 

IF IT’S ENDEMIC, HERE’S WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU. YOU MAY STILL NEED TO GET A VACCINE EVERY YEAR. WE WILL SEE CASES SPIKE DURING CERTAIN SEASONS. AND TESTING WILL BECOME THE NEW NORM. AND THE ART OF WASHING YOUR HANDS? WELL, THAT’S PROBABLY SOMETHING YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO ANYWAY. 

COVID IS MOST LIKELY HERE TO STAY…BUT…IT WILL BE MORE CONTROLLABLE AND LESS DEADLY. 

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS STORY, LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.