ABSTRACT
In order to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, we relied on age-old mitigation strategies such as isolation and quarantine, hygiene and sanitation, and vaccination. These strategies are rooted in experiences from past pandemics that have shaped our understanding of infectious disease control. This chapter reviews the historical origins of these pillars of mitigation and uses insights from modern epidemiology to reflect on how COVID-19 affects our view on these strategies in the future.
Quarantine originated during the Black Death in the 14th century and was enforced during the 18th-century plague outbreaks. Cholera influenced the hygiene movement across Europe and accelerated developments in sewage systems and access to clean drinking water. The concept of vaccination started with the late 18th-century discovery by Edward Jenner of the immunising properties of cowpox against smallpox. Jenner's vaccine was the start of vaccination programmes and eventually led to the eradication of smallpox globally in 1979. During the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine, isolation, and a focus on hygiene measures helped us to overcome the initial pandemic phase until vaccinations became available. The next pandemic looms on the horizon and experiences from past pandemics will be crucial in preparing for and overcoming the new crisis.
