Vampire Pandemics - Past and Present Jonathan Roberts

In a fascinating twist to our pandemic narrative, President Trump got Covid-19. He survived, thanks to experimental new treatments. This commentary asks what we, and our leaders, have become in a world of antibody cocktails and experimental therapy.

Like vampires, pandemics have been stalking us for millennia, draining us of our vitality and causing dissension in our ranks.  Do we really need to live with them, or is eradication a more worthy goal?

Ebola, the most terrifying of pandemics, is a deadly infectious disease but it is also a symptom of the racism inherent in our global medical system.

HIV AIDS changed sexuality forever, but its most profound impact was on its home turf of Africa.  

We have a dysfunctional relationship with Influenza, our buddy, the "flu." It comes to visit us regularly and we have come to accept its presence, despite the fact that we might just be able to defeat it someday, maybe.

Cholera and humanity build a dysfunctional relationship in the 19th century.