Page 56 - ShowSight Express, June 8, 2020

PANDEMIC 2020: WILL IT CHANGE THE GAME?
When attending shows, we are crammed into close contact with hundreds of other exhibitors. Grooming areas are filled with crates, tables, chairs, equipment, ex-pens, and just about every type of germ-carrying item possible. Hundreds of hair and blow dry- ers are spreading various products and germs throughout the area. Dog hair, chalk, and other products gather in the air and on the floors and move swiftly through the buildings. Many exhibitors do not properly clean up after their dogs or themselves creating other potential health issues. Judges, stewards, and various other volunteers have close contact with hundreds of individuals during the day.
I am sure that at least initially, when our shows start up again, most of us will be a little more aware of proper hygiene with wash- ing our hands and avoiding situations that might create a problem. There will also be those exhibitors who will take to social media to say that a judge did not wipe his or her hands between dogs, or that a judge, handler, or exhibitor was coughing and should not have even been at the show. There will be more complaints about tight grooming areas and the dryers, etc. We all know it will not be a magical “back to normal” accomplishment immediately.
I do believe things will eventually get back to something that resembles normal. I also believe that many people will worry more about catching something at a show than in the past. We may lose some people from our sport after this is over for a variety of differ- ent reasons. I also think that some of our clubs will probably fold for one reason or another. We have often heard complaints about long clusters with people, dogs, and ex-pens creating an unhealthy environment by being in one place for so long. Will we need to look at this purely because of health issues?
Historically, the world has survived numerous pandemics as well as epidemics.
What is the difference? An epidemic is described as when an infectious disease has spread through a community across a geo- graphic area infecting large numbers of people.
A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads beyond individual communities to affect large parts of the world. According to the CDC and WHO, neither uses any hard numbers to distinguish an epidemic from a pandemic. Rather, once the outbreak of disease spreads beyond a geographical area, epidemiologists (the people who study the spread of disease) make a judgment call.
To look at the background of the most dangerous epidemics the United States has faced historically, I searched Healthline.com to find information medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., MSN, RN, CAN on September 29, 2016. The information that follows is a summary of how some of these outbreaks affected the United States.
The first major epidemic to come to the shores of North Amer- ica began when European settlers in New England brought small- pox to our shores. Between 1633-1634, over 70% of the Native American population fell victim to the disease. In 1770, Edward Jenner developed a vaccine from cowpox. Yet it was not until 1949 that the last known case of the disease appeared in our country.
In 1793, Yellow Fever appeared in the city of Philadelphia. The disease came from the Caribbean and over five thousand people died. It was not until 1935 that a vaccine was developed and then it
“WE HAVE OFTEN HEARD COMPLAINTS ABOUT LONG CLUSTERS WITH PEOPLE, DOGS, AND EX-PENS CREATING AN UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT BY BEING IN ONE PLACE FOR SO LONG. WILL WE NEED TO LOOK
AT THIS PURELY BECA”USE OF HEALTH ISSUES?
was not until 1953 that the vaccine was approved for distribution. There is no cure for Yellow Fever, but one vaccine is enough for lifetime protection.
From 1831 until 1866, Cholera infections came to our shores in three waves starting in New York City. The pandemic began in India and swiftly spread across the globe through trade routes. It is estimated that between two and six Americans died each day dur- ing the outbreak that spanned more than three decades.
Scarlet Fever arrived in 1858. To this day there is no vaccine, but the disease is treatable with antibiotics.
The Typhoid Fever commonly known as “Typhoid Mary” came to our shores in 1906, and it is believed that over 10,000 people passed away annually from the disease. A vaccine was developed in 1911 and an antibiotic treatment became available in 1948. Today, typhoid is rare but it can spread through direct contact with infect- ed people as well as through the consumption of contaminated food or water.
In 1918, it is estimated that over 675,000 Americans perished from the “Spanish Flu.” The first flu vaccine was not developed until 1942. Science acknowledges that influenza strains seem to mutate every year making last year’s vaccinations less effective.
During the 1920s, a Diphtheria epidemic caused the death of over 15,000 people during its peak. In the mid–1920s, a vaccine was licensed and now catching the virus is very rare.