Some people claim that it is economically more profitable to prevent the spread of diseases rather than to focus on their treatment. I strongly agree with this statement. In today’s densely populated world, I believe humanity must acknowledge that identifying new diseases is extremely time-consuming and nearly impossible at the early stages. Therefore, efforts should focus on increasing public awareness of preventive measures and encouraging both individuals and governments to adopt basic safety protocols.
Firstly, the time required to develop treatments can cost many lives. The most well-known plagues and epidemics are remembered for their devastating death tolls, which were often worsened by poor hygiene practices of the time. Simple preventive measures such as regular handwashing and clean water access could have significantly reduced the deadliness of these diseases. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, China, the initial epicenter of the outbreak, was able to quickly limit the spread by implementing strict preventive measures, saving many lives in a short period.
Secondly, many deadly diseases remain dangerous because of their ability to mutate and evolve in response to medication. These new variants can be even more destructive to human cells. Moreover, a vaccine effective against the original virus may not work on new strains. This leads to a problematic cycle of constant vaccine development. As a result, some countries and individuals, after experiencing the pandemic, have adapted to the post-2020 world by establishing habits such as maintaining social distance and wearing masks in crowded areas.
In conclusion, I agree that prevention is a safer and more economically beneficial strategy to combat the spread of disease. However, while some countries are adopting preventive measures, traditional treatment methods still remain essential in modern healthcare.