Parallelism between the Black Death and Novel Corona virus

Novel Coronavirus also termed as ‘COVID-19’ is unfortunately one of the long list of pandemics faced in history, but fortunately many lessons from the past pandemics can help in better planning during these hard times. Black Death, also termed as ‘Great Mortality’ was the second most deadly plague pandemic that was faced in history, after Plague of Justinian. It has known to wipe out world population by nearly 200 million. It was originated in eastern parts of the world, in China in mid 1300s by rat fleas and was at its highest rate in Europe, killing nearly half its population (1346-1353).

As history’s timeline indicates, even when these two pandemics are standing distantly, we see similarities in controlling methods and public reaction.

1. Hygiene

The Black Death marked the importance of hygiene when the rodents fled the dry grasslands and set their habitat in populated areas. Before the realization, the mid 1300s saw bath as a luxury due to unavailability of running water. Sewage systems were never an issue to be given importance to. The houses were filthy and overcrowded.

In Modern India, the conditions are similar. The poor households have overcrowded filthy huts, lack of proper hygiene systems. The middle families are at no better place. However, people again have started realizing that washing hands, wearing masks and gloves, washing hands can prevent deadly diseases.

2. Quarantine

The Black Death was the origin of the word ‘Quarantine’. People started realizing that being at home is better in a pandemic, to limit physical contact. The ships and trade caravans were scanned for infection and if infected, they weren’t allowed to enter.

We see importance of quarantine today as well.

3. Religious wars and views

Just like every natural calamity brings with itself beliefs and superstitions, the Christian community of that time believed it was a persecution by Jews. They were tortured and killed in large numbers. The cures were believed to be found in the religious sacrifices and the pandemic was considered to end all evil. One of the remedies that was marked prevalent was to drink a potion made of unicorn horn as the unicorn was considered pure.

Even after centuries, the beliefs have not faded. The only difference we can see is trust on medical science more than before. During COVID-19, videos are in circulation, of people blaming specific religious communities for such a pandemic as they have committed sins.

Just like the unicorn horn potion, people in India believed cow urine as a remedy of treating coronavirus. People blindly trusted the act. The number of people who drank it out of superstitions was huge.

4. Widening gap between rich and poor

A pandemic effects the poor the most. The food is snatched away from their plates, the shelter becomes no less than a prison. During the Black Death, in Elizabeth I region, the concept of special certificates came which were mandatory to commute between cities. However, they were a luxury, possessed only by the wealthy.

The concept of E-pass, is a luxury too. A poor who does not have food in his plate should have internet! An illiterate should know house to use virtual space. They were beaten while travelling barefoot in scorching heat. However, measures were taken to help them commute, restrictions were removed.

Excessive demand of food grains by the well-off communities have decreased the supply of food stock followed by locust swarms entering the Land of India. Like the Black Death was accompanied by the great famine that added to death of many people.

5. Xenophobic decisions

We can all witness racist and xenophobic reactions of western powers towards Asian groups. Asian people in western countries are tortured and quarantined without showing any symptoms. Asian people have taunted and attacked, brutally beaten. Just like the previous times, when some ethnic groups were to be blamed for the plague.

Even after centuries, we see how similar public reactions are to a pandemic. We must learn from history, not repeat it.

-Rashi Jain