[The Editors' Verdict] Transparent Response Is the Best Policy

The last ice age, which lasted for over a million years, ended about 10,000 years ago. From around 14,000 years ago, temperatures began to rise, and by 10,000 years ago, the temperature had increased to nearly the current level. Glaciers that covered Asia, Europe, and North America retreated northward, followed by tundra. Light forests of conifers such as birch and spruce followed behind.

After the glaciers had retreated far north, deciduous and broadleaf forests deeply settled in the temperate regions. Naturally, animals also migrated northward, and new animals inhabiting the dense forests followed. Around that time, the ancestors of humans who had survived by hunting and gathering began early agriculture. Livestock breeding for food started first, followed by a kind of cultivation involving watering plants and removing surrounding weeds.

Diseases and epidemics are believed to have existed alongside humans since ancient times. However, during the hunting and gathering era when populations were sparse and scattered, the likelihood of widespread epidemics was low. With the beginning of settlement, agriculture, communal living, and urban development, various infectious diseases such as measles, smallpox, diphtheria, mumps, and influenza spread, causing considerable casualties.

There are numerous cases where history has taken a turn due to diseases. The most widely known is the Black Death, which spread widely in Europe in the mid-14th century. The Black Death, which claimed 40% of Europe's population, reappeared several times afterward in various places. Even greater devastation was caused by infectious diseases that Europeans brought to the New World. Diseases from the Old World such as measles, smallpox, and diphtheria were fatal to the New World inhabitants who had no immunity. After Cort?s and Pizarro conquered Mexico and Peru, it took less than 50 years for the population there to decrease to 10% due to the diseases they brought.

Before modern vaccinations began, the number of soldiers who died from infectious diseases in wars far exceeded those killed in battle. Japan was the first country to administer vaccinations to soldiers. It is known that during the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894, Japan was the first in the world to vaccinate its soldiers.

The world is on edge due to the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) that started in Wuhan, China. The United States, Australia, New Zealand, and others have banned entry of foreigners who have visited China. Countries including Korea and Japan have banned entry of Chinese nationals holding passports from Hubei Province, where Wuhan is located. Countries worldwide have also quarantined returning nationals from China for two weeks. It is reported that more than 10% of flights to China have been canceled.

Although the probability of death after infection is not very high, this has become a global news event and prompted strong responses because of uncertainty and anxiety about the unseen rather than the disease itself. The uncertainty that someone we meet directly or indirectly might carry the virus, even though the probability is very low, is unbearable. Uncertainty and the resulting anxiety, whether caused by disease, asset market bubbles, or international relations, are diseases that can lead to death for nations, societies, and individuals alike.

The best way to overcome the current situation caused by the novel coronavirus is to share sufficient information as much as possible to reduce uncertainty and anxiety. It is necessary to learn from the Chinese authorities' failure in the initial response as a cautionary example. There seems to be no better solution than sufficient information and trust.

Jo Jang-ok, Professor of Economics, Sogang University

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.