There were times when epidemics raging in Europe mowed down half the population. At the beginning of the 20th century, from 50 to 100 million people died of the Spanish disease in 18 months, according to various sources. The 21st century, thank God, has not yet faced such an epidemic. But WHO has already declared pandemics in this century.

Both doctors and non-medics are under stress. After all, the media endlessly talk about people dying! But we should not forget that hyping and “scaremongering” is the main marketing strategy of any media. Let's look at the facts. In severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which began in 2002, the mortality rate was 10%. In avian influenza (H5N1) - 52%, in Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012-2013, caused by coronavirus and nicknamed “camel flu” - about 40%, in Ebola hemorrhagic fever in 2014 - 41%.

The mortality rate for COVID-19 is 4.6% and varies widely from country to country. Time will tell what was more - the true threat or someone deliberately created panic. But the fact remains that every day in Russia several hundred people are infected with a new modification of the coronavirus, and we do not know the true figures, because, I am sure, there are fewer people being treated for diagnosis than are actually infected. Our magazine could not stay away from the most acute topic of the last months. We dedicated this issue to infectious diseases.

Prof. I.V. Egorov