When Corona
came to
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Viruses are very small and can cause illness in people, animals and plants. Different viruses cause the common cold, flu, chickenpox, measles and many other diseases. Some viruses can be spread very easily, others are more rare.

The body’s immune system has natural defences against viruses, such as high fever which makes the infection become inactive. White blood cells also fight viruses and prevent future infections. Treatments such as antibiotics that tackle bacteria do not work against viruses. Instead, vaccines are used on humans and animals to protect them against viral infections and strengthen their immune systems.

Here are examples of three different viruses:

Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

Coronaviruses spread through the process of “droplet infection”. When a person is sick and coughs or sneezes, viruses can come out of their mouth or nose and fly through the air. Someone else can get infected by these viruses.

The further apart we stand or walk, the harder it is for the virus to infect us. Masks can protect us from airborne viruses. During the Spanish flu of 1918, people were already being advised to avoid “unnecessary crowds of people”.

“It is unquestionably established that the influenza pathogen and thus the disease itself is transmitted at close quarters from person to person. Every individual is therefore made aware of the need to avoid, as far as possible, any unnecessary crowding of people (full trains, dancing, cinemas etc.)”.

The coronavirus doesn’t like water and soap. We can simply rinse it off. It was the Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865), who observed in the 19th century that handwashing protects us from diseases.

Simple handwashing is a crucial way to prevent the spread of pathogens. Semmelweis, who worked at a Viennese obstetric clinic, established the connection between dirty hands and deadly diseases.

In the 1920s, people were increasingly informed by the authorities that daily handwashing and cleanliness helped them to stay healthy.

Masks help to protect us from the “droplet infection” through which the coronavirus spreads. During the Spanish flu, people also wore masks on public transport, on the street and indoors.

Those who wanted to take the tram in Seattle, USA, during the Spanish flu of 1918 had to wear a face mask, just as people do today.

Nobody likes being pricked by a needle. But vaccinations can help us to avoid certain illnesses. Vaccination is not nearly as bad as the disease itself. So how do vaccines protect us?

With vaccines, tiny weakened pathogens (e. g. viruses) or parts of them are injected into our bodies. These cause only a mild infection. Usually we don’t notice it.

Our bodies fight the disease and produce new defences, called ‘antibodies’. These antibodies can then be produced during an infection, faster than if the body would see the pathogen for the first time. As a result, the outcome of the infection is milder.

Antibodies are special substances in the body that have the shape of the letter “Y”. They attach themselves to intruders in our bodies to make them harmless. Invaders can be viruses, bacteria, fungi, or even parasites.

If we come into contact with the pathogen later on, our body defends itself with the help of the antibodies it produces.

Together we can beat the Coronavirus ! We all need to work together and not give in until we get it under control. There have been worldwide outbreaks of disease before. People before us have beaten pandemics, and we will too.