Wearing mask and quarantine are not new to us - Black death, "The Great Plague".

Every century we overcame deadly circumstances like diseases and war. Still going on...

Mask wearing, quarantine are not new to us. Do you remember, "Black Death- The Great Plague". It happened on mid-20th century. 

We all know the rhymes of our childhood. It stays in memory forever and continue to the next generation. That includes this one...

" Ring-a Ring-a roses

A pocket full of posies

Atishoo atishoo 

All falls down"

Actually it was from 19th century, according to the "Dictionary of British folklore" it is described as Children singing song around the roses and bowing down as a curtsy "All fall down"(1). After the Second World war, people were infected with plague. This rhyme was implanted with its meaning and became the memory that will carried to the next generation. Ringa ringa roses means, Plague causes rose rashes. A pocket full of poises means, sweet smell flowers to ward off plague smell in dead. Atishoo means the sneezing. If infected, death will cause - all falls down. 

Hence, at that time doctors wear crow mask or bird mask. It has bend infront of their nose and contain herbs and dried flowers(posies) to protect from evil smell of plague and infection.

In 1949, a song composed for radiation sickness.

" Ring-a Ring-a geranium

A pocket full of uranium

Hiro, shima

All fall down" (2).

We are already emerge from these circumstances. We have the will power to overcome this pandemic. 

As from ideal, the song for this covid-19 pandemic may be...

"Ring-a Ring-a virus

A pocket full of sanitizers

Atishoo atishoo

All fall down" 

Comment below, " If sad historical moments are embedded in children rhymes would be right or wrong?".

 

Plague infection

Plague is caused by zoonotic bacteria Yersinia pestis. Two forms of infection occured Bubonic ( infection in lymph nodes) and pneumonic ( infection to lungs).

In case of bubonic, the lymphatic system is affected. It is transmitted by an Infected flea ( a flying insect). It replicates itself in lymph nodes. It became inflamed, painful and form open sores with pus. Transmission of bubonic plague infection is very rare. 

Bubonic plague severed and spread to lungs became pneumonic plague which is fatal. It's incubation period is 24 hours. It can transfer from one person to another via droplets. It can be treated as soon as infected within 24 hours.

Antibiotics and supportive therapy are effective if it is treated in time within the onset of symptoms.

Reason for plague ended:

"Pathogen became less lethal as it carried on in waves"

A group of researchers collected the DNA strain from the victim of plague years 1348-1350. Using DNA sequencing method, found the reason and suggested a theory. A pathogen that kills all its victims will eventually run out of victims and extinct. The plague bacteria evolve to became less virulent and it is a successful evolutionary. It is natural to happen mutations or else entire human race will wipe out by infections. Same happened for Spanish flu. It's virulent nature mutate to less virulent. They also followed quarantine, social distancing and mask wearing in public. Hence it's not new to us to face another pandemic. Does this will happen to Covid-19 ?. Can mutations occured in positive side.

Make sure to sanitize your hand frequent and always wear mask. 

References:

(1) Gomme, George Laurence (1898). A Dictionary of British Folklore. D. Nutt. pp. 110–111

(2)  Christmas competition results – Nursery rhyme". The Observer. 9 January 1949. p. 6.; quoted in Opie and Opie (1951), p. 365.