A reflection on what we've failed to learn from past pandemics

Would COVID-19 have caught the world so off guard if we had taken lessons from past pandemics? Probably not, as our cover story explains.

Published July 14, 2020
2 min read
This story appears in the August 2020 issue of National Geographic magazine.
This content is Subscriber-Exclusive
You must have a National Geographic subscription to explore this article.
SUBSCRIBE NOWto get access to exclusive stories, plus a century of archives, photos, and videos.  Already a subscriber?Sign In

Unlock this Nat Geo Premium content–and much more

Want to keep exploring? Unlock this exclusive story and more with Nat Geo Premium.
Already a subscriber?
Sign In

More coronavirus coverage

Blood cleaning? Long COVID patients turn to unproven treatments
COVID can trigger tinnitus. Could the vaccines do the same?
‘Microclots’ could help solve the long COVID puzzle
Omicron variant XBB.1.5 is the most contagious yet

Go Further

Animals

Environment

History & Culture

Science

Travel

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

Read

How viruses shape our world

Read

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

Read

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Read
  • Magazine

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Explore

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

Read

How viruses shape our world

Read

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

Read

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Read
  • Magazine

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Explore

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

Read

How viruses shape our world

Read

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

Read

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Read
  • Magazine

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Explore
See More