Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become cliché to say life as we knew it is gone. Now, I know you’re likely asking, “Really? A COVID article in 2025?”—but I mean “since” and not “during” or “back when” (because, in case you didn’t know, that infamous coronavirus is still around). Unlike our old lifestyles, however, pandemics aren’t a thing of the past, not for the immunocompromised or anyone seeking better public health measures. And COVID is not the first or the only highly infectious disease we have or will encounter (public health crises like the 2009 influenza outbreak and the 2014 spread of the ebola virus come to mind). As we navigate through the next few years with continually lowered public health and safety measures, it’s important to keep in mind that our “health” and any able-bodied or corporeal capacities we have are only temporary, and we should do what we can to prolong these as much as possible.

Disclaimer: there are far more knowledgeable voices on this topic than mine, and I speak with some bias as a (generally able-bodied but medically cautious) member of the COVID-conscious community. But below will be an incomplete overview of pandemics to look out for, steps to take in preparation for them, and how these illnesses have been historically used to exploit and oppress the immunocompromised and other marginalized groups.

Pandemics (in the News and Unspoken)

• Quad-demic: Public health officials are showing concern about four respiratory illnesses this winter season (these being the aforementioned COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the flu, and norovirus), hence the term ‘quad-demic’ being used in some news outlets to report on this matter. With an international spotlight, human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has seen an uptick in cases over the past few weeks. As of now, the virus is being overlooked in the United States as not having enough cause for concern. Regardless, these diseases are something to look out for. 

• Bird flu: The bird or avian flu (H5N1) outbreak began in 2022. Little information about human infection has been reported in the mainstream, as this virus has largely affected chickens and other animals, such as dairy herds and even cats. Despite the minimal reporting, you’ve likely seen some of the effects of H5N1, as the outbreak has hiked the prices of eggs, poultry, and other farm-derived products.

• RFK Jr. and Anti-Vaxx Skeptics: Along with the upcoming presidential inauguration will debut a new administration and reformed government offices—among them, the Department of Health and Human Services, which will presumably be led by Trump-appointed Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. RFK Jr.’s foray into this position has been controversial, and his Make America Healthy Again motto leaves lots of questions about his nebulous-at-best plans for national public health initiatives. Among his more concerning points are his cynical remarks about the effectiveness of vaccines, as well as his involvement in a 2019 medical mission to address a measles outbreak in Samoa which resulted in a widespread disinformation campaign. While his placement has been met with bipartisan protest, only time will tell what his approach will be. 

Preparedness: Staying Safe Against Disease

• Wear a mask: Protecting yourself and preventing transmission doesn’t have to be hard! PPE, which stands for personal protective equipment, is the bare minimum baseline of the hierarchy of controls, a five-level outline describing approaches to eliminate hazards. Filtering the air you breathe is a good first step, and one of the most cost-effective ways to do this is by wearing a high-quality respirator. Visiting resources like Mask Bloc (a directory listing blocs that give away PPE worldwide) and keeping masks handy greatly helps stop the spread and find community. While any respirator is better than none, KN95s and above (if accessible to you) are best for filtering out smaller droplet particles responsible for propagating illnesses. By isolating when sick and minimizing exposure, you can help keep yourself and your community safe.

• Watch out for disinformation: It’s easy to believe the first opinions you may see surrounding any current viruses or illnesses. However, some of these opinions or “facts” can be steeped in bigoted vitriol—think back on COVID being labeled a “Chinese virus” by Trump and the hatred and violent acts that subsequently stemmed toward Asian Americans from racist and xenophobic sentiments like these. Be sure to stay safe and be wary of any sources or updates you may come across. 

• Listen to immunocompromised voices: The spread of illness isn’t only an individual issue; it’s a collective one (whether it be about the general population’s wellbeing, larger conversations surrounding disability and ableism, or even about labor, as we’ll talk about in a bit). Supporting and listening to disabled and immunocompromised activists is crucial now more than ever, especially as there are increased threats to dismantle disability rights under Project 2025. 

Exploitation (and Historical Precedents)

As unprecedented as we may think our current sociopolitical and global situation to be, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are not historically unique. There have been many global contagions to learn from, and historians and epidemiologists are connecting the dots between the spread of infectious diseases and the socioeconomic restlessness that follows, with some sharing their thoughts on social media platforms. These patterns are all the more concerning when we compare our current political division and turbulent global relationships to the events that unfolded after the 1918 influenza pandemic. With an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide (and 675,000 deaths in the United States alone), the pandemic was devastating to a global degree. Over a hundred years since, it seems that despite the grim outcomes of contagion, we have collectively decided to ignore the dangers and effects of widespread disease in search of a standard of blissful comfortability that we cannot afford to keep pursuing.

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As much as any one of us would like to “go back to normal” and not acknowledge how mismanaged our public health approach has been, collective denialism and carelessness are only further contributing to the propagation of disease. It’s necessary to be mindful of how we contribute to the spread of disease, and to do our best to preserve the health and safety of ourselves and others as we enter the fifth year of the COVID-19 pandemic.