I found this documentary about the 1918 flu pandemic super interesting!! I do believe that we could see another flu pandemic or another type of pandemic with the "Next Big One." I believe that the world does have a carrying capacity. The term carrying capacity means "the maximum, equilibrium number of organisms of a particular species that can be supported indefinitely in a given environment" (Dictionary.com). I believe that this future pandemic is a way of controlling the earth's carrying capacity and keeping it from reaching its fullest amount. There are only so many people the earth can sustain and when we get close to reaching that point, I believe a pandemic will occur. When the earth's population reaches a certain number, many people often question whether or not our natural resources are going to be able to keep up with our demands. World Population History states that "Our growing population, coupled with rising affluence and per capita impact, is driving our planet closer to its tipping point" (World Population History). I believe that the tipping point will be when another pandemic will occur.
Another reason I believe we are due for another pandemic is that our earth goes through cycles. CNN health states that we are long overdue for another pandemic. Garcia-Sastre states that "there is no good way to predict when a flu pandemic will occur but it is something that happens every 10 to 40 years" (Livescience.com). The earth goes through cycles of different changes and one of those changes is some large outbreak of a disease. Because of the cycles our world travels through, scientists believe that we are due for an outbreak and therefore are striving to be prepared for when that outbreak does occur. CNN health also states that "we have learned a lot over the past 100 years and are better prepared because of it" (CNN health). Doctors and Scientists are striving to become more aware of the virus that will cause the pandemic so that when this pandemic does occur, there will be a treatment for the infected people.
I do believe that the "Next Big One" will be the flu. The influenza virus mutates rapidly and has many different strains therefore I do believe there could be a mutation of the virus that could cause another Flu Pandemic!
“We're Due For a Flu Pandemic. How Will It Start?” LiveScience, Purch, www.livescience.com/64992-how-flu-becomes-pandemic.html.
Gupta, Dr. Sanjay. “The Big One Is Coming, and It's Going to Be a Flu Pandemic.” CNN, Cable News Network, 7 Nov. 2018, www.cnn.com/2017/04/07/health/flu-pandemic-sanjay-gupta/index.html.
“Carrying Capacity.” World Population, worldpopulationhistory.org/carrying-capacity/.
“Carrying Capacity.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/carrying-capacity?s=t.