Two Major Epidemics of Last Century

 

The coronavirus pandemic from 2019-2023 was something we all had to live with, and led to the death of of around 16,900 Sri Lankans. But, because of modern medicine and concerted efforts, was mortality 2.5%.. losing only 0.07% of our population. We all remember what it went through, but Sri Lankans for centuries have went through epidemics without modern medicine as it is, and with 2 examples from last century.

In the 1918-1920 Spannish Flu pandemic, the analog of our situation from a century ago. 91 600 people are said to have died, which is more than 4 times the death toll of the last pandemic, when our country had 4 times lower the population. So essentially 16 times more death.

Actually, this number has many nuances to it, which I can't express in post, links provided https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Mortality-of-the-1918-1920-Influenza-Pandemic-Asia_tbl3_11487892

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4181474/#:~:text=11%E2%80%9313,51%20000%E2%80%9391%20600%20deaths.

What must've people from 1918-1920 went through in that time period, would've been worse than 16 times the misery we endured.

Malaria is another issue from immemorial time, the worst recorded being from 1934-35, in which 1.5 million got infected with Malaria. This was when the population was still somewhere between 5-6 million, meaning that 1/5 to 1/4, got infected Malaria, which isn't a joke. How incapacitated would it be for anyone to do anything, thank goodness concerted efforts led to Malaria being elinated' in 2016, with concerted efforts of Anti-Malaria Campaign, us now being in the prevention of re establishment phase.

This is two of many epidemics we had in the last century, I can never do justice to them. Epidemics would ve happened numerous times throughout our history as a norm, and it would ve shaped profoundly how we thrived and evolved.

How wonderful it is to live in Sri Lanka, in this 21st century AD, the third millennium.

According to Anti-Malaria Campaign Website ;

1911: Organized malaria control activities commenced with the establishment of the Anti Malaria Campaign in Kurunegala.

1934-1935: A massive malaria epidemic occurred in Sri Lanka, causing widespread cases and deaths.

1946: Introduction of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), leading to a steady decline in malaria morbidity and mortality.

1958: The newly independent Government of Ceylon launched a malaria eradication program, aligned with WHO recommendations.

1963: Near eradication status was achieved, with only 17 reported cases (11 of which were imported).

1967-1969: A major setback occurred, culminating in a massive malaria epidemic.

1989: The program was transformed into a decentralized campaign, implemented by 9 provincial health authorities under the technical guidance of the National Anti Malaria Campaign Directorate.

2009: Sri Lanka embarked on a phased malaria pre-elimination program after the end of the separatist war.

2011: The malaria elimination program was launched.

October 2012: The last case of indigenous malaria was reported.

2016 (September 5): Sri Lanka was declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization