The world has experienced many pandemics, each one leaving behind serious human and economic consequences. When does a disease become a pandemic?

We are experiencing days full of anxiety about the acute pneumonia caused by the new strain of coronavirus (Covid-19) when the number of infected people is constantly increasing, especially the epicenter in Wuhan city, China. The disease has spread to many countries around the world, people are afraid that this disease will become a new pandemic of humanity. In fact, we humans have experienced many major epidemics around the world, with very dangerous levels of destruction.

Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal infection caused by cholera bacteria. The patient has typical symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting and massive diarrhea leading to severe dehydration and exhaustion. Cholera bacteria, also known as cholera vibrio, with the scientific name of Vibrio Cholerae, is a direct pathogen that exists in human and animal feces, spreading through the digestive tract. World history has recorded 7 cholera pandemics that occurred on many continents and took the lives of millions of people.

Epidemiology is an integral component of public health, providing the foundation for directing practical and appropriate public health action based on science and causal reasoning. Although epidemiology has evolved significantly since World War II, its roots date back to the observations of Hippocrates over 2,000 years ago.