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1. Diseases like SARS, MERS, Influenza, Swine Flu, Whooping Cough, Measles, Smallpox and Rubella have what are called "vectors" - ways in which they are easily spread because people are doing something or not doing something. Name a vector (a way in which disease spreads).
2. There have been many famous pandemics in the 20th and 21st centuries. Name one. Which countries were affected? Do you know approximately how many people died?
3. When was the most recent pandemic affecting Japan? What happened? Were you nervous? Why?
4. During this latest outbreak, what precautions did you take? Do you think it was meaningful to do this? Why?
5. What did you see other people at work, on TV or locally doing that surprised you?
6. Do you think the most recent pandemic was managed well? Why?

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Question 1

A vector I can think of is an infected object (like a hand) touching another object (like a door handle) and resulting in passing on the disease.

Question 2

I remember the Swine Flu that ran rampant through Mexico as I was living there at the time. I actually caught it but I didn't know until I was tested 4 months afterwards.

Question 3

COVID-19 is the most obvious one. But I also remember a couple of years ago there was a measles outbreak in the Kanto area. I do not think anyone died from that outbreak.

Question 4

During the measles outbreak I did not take any special precautions as I do not travel to Kanto often and Kansai is rather far.

Question 5

I think there were a lot of people who caught it around the Yayoiyagi Park area in Tokyo. That caught me off guard.

Question 6

I think the measles outbreak was handled well as there were no casualties.

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
caught me off guard	私を驚かせて
obvious	明らか
ran rampant	横行した