A comparative analysis of influenza and COVID-19: Environmental-ecological impacts, socioeconomic implications, and future challenges
In the last century, global pandemics have been primarily driven by respiratory infections, which consistently rank among the top 20 causes of death worldwide. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the intricate nature of managing multiple health crises simultaneously. In...
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Biosafety and Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590053624001319 |
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| author | Yongman Guo Kuiying Gu Paul A. Garber Ruiling Zhang Zijian Zhao Lei Xu |
| author_facet | Yongman Guo Kuiying Gu Paul A. Garber Ruiling Zhang Zijian Zhao Lei Xu |
| author_sort | Yongman Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the last century, global pandemics have been primarily driven by respiratory infections, which consistently rank among the top 20 causes of death worldwide. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the intricate nature of managing multiple health crises simultaneously. In recent years, climate change has emerged as a major biosafety and population health challenge. Global warming and extreme weather events have intensified outbreaks of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, especially respiratory diseases. Influenza and COVID-19 have emerged as two of the most significant respiratory pandemics, each with unique epidemic characteristics and far-reaching consequences. Our comparative analysis reveals that while both diseases exhibit high transmission rates, COVID-19′s longer incubation period and higher severity have led to more profound and prolonged socioeconomic disruptions than influenza. Both pandemics have highlighted the exacerbating effects of climate change, with extreme weather events intensifying the spread and impact of these diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global healthcare systems and economies on an unprecedented scale, outstripping the strain caused by influenza outbreaks. Importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only reshaped global public health strategies but also significantly impacted the epidemiology of influenza. Despite these differences and associations, both diseases underscore the urgent need for robust pandemic preparedness and adaptable public health strategies. This review delineates the overlaps and distinctions between influenza and COVID-19, offering insights into future challenges and the critical steps needed to enhance healthcare system resilience and improve global responses to pandemics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4608b1484c5406d890fd55e34cef9f8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-0536 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biosafety and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4608b1484c5406d890fd55e34cef9f82024-12-29T04:47:59ZengElsevierBiosafety and Health2590-05362024-12-0166369375A comparative analysis of influenza and COVID-19: Environmental-ecological impacts, socioeconomic implications, and future challengesYongman Guo0Kuiying Gu1Paul A. Garber2Ruiling Zhang3Zijian Zhao4Lei Xu5Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaInstitute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Anthropology, Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Urbana 61801, United States; International Center of Biodiversity and Primate Conservation, Dali University, Dali 671003, ChinaZhengzhou Municipal Agriculture Rural Work Committee of Zhongyuan District, Zhengzhou 450000, ChinaSchool of Physical Education Institute (Main Campus), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, ChinaVanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Corresponding author: Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.In the last century, global pandemics have been primarily driven by respiratory infections, which consistently rank among the top 20 causes of death worldwide. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the intricate nature of managing multiple health crises simultaneously. In recent years, climate change has emerged as a major biosafety and population health challenge. Global warming and extreme weather events have intensified outbreaks of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, especially respiratory diseases. Influenza and COVID-19 have emerged as two of the most significant respiratory pandemics, each with unique epidemic characteristics and far-reaching consequences. Our comparative analysis reveals that while both diseases exhibit high transmission rates, COVID-19′s longer incubation period and higher severity have led to more profound and prolonged socioeconomic disruptions than influenza. Both pandemics have highlighted the exacerbating effects of climate change, with extreme weather events intensifying the spread and impact of these diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global healthcare systems and economies on an unprecedented scale, outstripping the strain caused by influenza outbreaks. Importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only reshaped global public health strategies but also significantly impacted the epidemiology of influenza. Despite these differences and associations, both diseases underscore the urgent need for robust pandemic preparedness and adaptable public health strategies. This review delineates the overlaps and distinctions between influenza and COVID-19, offering insights into future challenges and the critical steps needed to enhance healthcare system resilience and improve global responses to pandemics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590053624001319InfluenzaCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Epidemiological characteristicsInfluencing factorsPublic health challenges |
| spellingShingle | Yongman Guo Kuiying Gu Paul A. Garber Ruiling Zhang Zijian Zhao Lei Xu A comparative analysis of influenza and COVID-19: Environmental-ecological impacts, socioeconomic implications, and future challenges Biosafety and Health Influenza Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Epidemiological characteristics Influencing factors Public health challenges |
| title | A comparative analysis of influenza and COVID-19: Environmental-ecological impacts, socioeconomic implications, and future challenges |
| title_full | A comparative analysis of influenza and COVID-19: Environmental-ecological impacts, socioeconomic implications, and future challenges |
| title_fullStr | A comparative analysis of influenza and COVID-19: Environmental-ecological impacts, socioeconomic implications, and future challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comparative analysis of influenza and COVID-19: Environmental-ecological impacts, socioeconomic implications, and future challenges |
| title_short | A comparative analysis of influenza and COVID-19: Environmental-ecological impacts, socioeconomic implications, and future challenges |
| title_sort | comparative analysis of influenza and covid 19 environmental ecological impacts socioeconomic implications and future challenges |
| topic | Influenza Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Epidemiological characteristics Influencing factors Public health challenges |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590053624001319 |
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