Management of epidemics from early modern age to the contemporary age in Western democracies

Abstract

Covid-19 is not the first pandemic in history. Epidemics have always affected the human population causing fear, death, social and economic disruption, demographic changes and scientific discoveries. What has changed is the way in which health emergencies have been handled throughout history. Public health strategies have evolved, and the management of epidemics has always posed new challenges for political leaders. This work will give an overview of the major epidemics of the past, those that have contributed the most to the development of public health measures such as plague, smallpox, cholera, and Spanish Flu. In addition, the different ways in which past epidemics have been managed will be analyzed in order to make a final reflection on the management of the Covid-19 pandemic which has represented a big challenge for Western democracies.