The teachings of the epidemic thrillers to the study of the COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: Excessive confidence drives prevention away from of the unpredictable, and cinema through epidemic thrillers has been a great master of keeping uncertainties alive. Objective: Analyze ten films based on zoonotic diseases that through their stories generate ideas to apply them from a communication in health to the study of the COVID-19. Methodology: Selection of films through the IMDb (Internet Movie Date Base), filmic analysis and evaluation of audiovisual texts as works of communication. Results: Showing epidemics at a certain distance from the screenseems distant and improbable but in the end they invite thinking and give hints that someday those scenarios may become close and probable. The importance of maintaining distances between reservoir animals and humans to avoid future viral zoonoses is highlighted from the films. Conclusions: Preventing in health is caring and when facing rapidly spreading and uncertain forecast pandemics like COVID-19, the best recipe for its management is to learn from past actions, extract ideas and find solutions to new questions.