Introduction:

This work describes the major pandemics in the history of mankind from B.C. until the most recent caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Objective:

To examine the major pandemics in the history of mankind and their impact on public health, social scopes and prospects of the current pandemic of COVID-19 in the development of mankind.

Methods:

There were reviewed publications on the subject in Spanish and English in databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, SciELO and Latindex from 2000 to 25 May, 2020.

Results:

There is a description of the most important aspects of epidemics caused by smallpox, bubonic plague, cholera, HIV/AIDS, influenzas and the current one produced by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, on the basis of their onsets, duration in years, amount of deceased, world location, most affected countries and impact on society and the health field. The social perspectives determined by the pandemic of COVID-19 are presented.

Conclusions:

There was an study on the outstanding features, especially the loss of human lives in the major pandemics that have plagued mankind, from B.C. until the most recent caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The global society at present time is facing uncertainties and challenges of social, economic, cultural, ethical, health and existential kind coming from the implications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which will determine consequences for human health and life. This pandemic is much more than a health crisis.

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