We were at war.

Yet, there was a second battle against an airborne virus plaguing the army as well as citizens. Those in charge of quarantined soldiers kept them isolated from communities and inoculated as many as they could. Thirty percent of the population died.

In July 1776, Gen. George Washington was fighting for independence with his Continental Army attempting to keep a world scourge of smallpox away from his brave men.

This virus was an unknown entity, but even with rudimentary science, doctors knew once you were exposed, you developed immunity and would not get sick again.  Inoculation of pox material into an incision would give you illness with the hope it would be only a “mild” case.

Today, of course, medical knowledge is different, as we already mapped the viral structure of COVID-19.  Despite this extraordinary scientific information, we must still utilize the same strident isolation rules of 1776.

History repeats itself, and as the Revolutionary War for independence was won, this war can be won, also.

Leadership and a worthy plan by good scientists must be followed.

Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D., is a geriatric housecall physician who serves as president of the Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults and Assemblyman to the California Senior Legislature. He has practiced in the Santa Clarita Valley for 32 years.