Contagion is a film released in 2011 and directed by Steven Soderberg. The film discusses an outbreak of a virus spread by respiratory droplets and attempts by public health workers and medical researchers to contain the spread of the virus and disruption of social order in the wake of a pandemic.
What have you learned by watching this movie?
After watching the movie, I learned that future outbreaks are inevitable and that every nation needs adequate preparation for these future outbreaks. Furthermore, I learned that everyone should trust medical experts because they are the only people who work hard to save lives in cases of the outbreak. Although there may be delays in finding solutions to problems, they are the only people who come up with solutions. Lastly, I learned that prevention is always better than cure. The film explains that the virus is transmitted through touching services like doorknobs, switches, and human touch. In the movie, Dr. Enin says that if health care professionals provide preventive measures, then following them is vital.
How does this movie compare with our current pandemic?
The film Contagion can be compared with the covid-19 pandemic. Both outbreaks emanated from an infected bat. The virus depicted in the movie killed millions of people, and people who suffered from it had flu like symptoms. Similarly, the current pandemic has killed millions of people worldwide, and victims also show flu-like symptoms. In both Contagion and Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing was the only solution to curb the spread of the virus.
Did watching this movie change your prospective on public health?
Watching the film changes my prospective on public health in understanding the role of health preparedness in the health sector. I have come to understand that the healthcare workforce’s readiness for a variety of emergencies is the key to fighting pandemics. When epidemics hit nations just like Contagion and Covid-19, things start deteriorating, and bringing them back to normal takes time.