T HE
SPARS PANDEMIC
2025 - 2028
A Futuristic Scenario for Public Health Risk Communicators
THE JOHNS HOPKINS C ENTER FOR HEALTH S ECURITY
,Project Team
Monica Schoch-Spana, PhD Matthew P. Shearer, MPH
Senior Associate Senior Analyst
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Emily K. Brunson, PhD, MPH Sanjana Ravi, MPH
Associate Professor Senior Analyst
Texas State University Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Tara Kirk Sell, PhD, MA Hannah Chandler
Senior Associate MPH Candidate
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Columbia University
Gigi Kwik Gronvall, PhD
Senior Associate
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Recommended Citation
Schoch-Spana M, Brunson EK, Shearer MP, Ravi S, Sell TK, Chandler H, Gronvall GK. The
SPARS Pandemic, 2025-2028: A Futuristic Scenario for Public Health Risk Communicators.
Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; October 2017.
, About the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security works to protect people from epidemics and
disasters and build resilient communities through innovative scholarship, engagement, and
research that strengthens the organizations, systems, policies, and programs essential to
preventing and responding to public health crises. The Center is part of the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health and is located in Baltimore, MD.
Learn more at www.centerforhealthsecurity.org
, Table of Contents
Preface
A Possible Future in 2025: The “Echo Chamber”..................................................................................1
Response
Chapter One: The SPARS Outbreak Begins............................................................................................4
Chapter Two: A Possible Cure....................................................................................................................8
Chapter Three: A Potential Vaccine........................................................................................................11
Chapter Four: Users Beware.....................................................................................................................14
Chapter Five: Going Viral..........................................................................................................................19
Chapter Six: The Grass is Always Greener...........................................................................................23
Chapter Seven: The Voice..........................................................................................................................25
Chapter Eight: Are You Talking To Me?..............................................................................................29
Chapter Nine: Changing Horses Midstream.........................................................................................31
Chapter Ten: Head of the Line Privileges..............................................................................................34
Chapter Eleven: Standing in Line, Protesting Online.........................................................................37
Chapter Twelve: Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket................................................................40
Chapter Thirteen: Lovers and Haters.....................................................................................................43
Chapter Fourteen: The Grass is Always Greener, Part II.................................................................49
Chapter Fifteen: Are You Talking to Me, Part II................................................................................52
Chapter Sixteen: Antibiotics, HO!............................................................................................................55
Recovery
Chapter Seventeen: Vaccine Injury..........................................................................................................59
Chapter Eighteen: Acknowledging Loss................................................................................................63
Chapter Nineteen: SPARS Aftermath.....................................................................................................66
References & Appendices
References......................................................................................................................................................67
Acronyms.......................................................................................................................................................68
Appendix A: Response Scenario Timeline.............................................................................................69
Appendix B: Response Scenario Communication Dilemmas............................................................73
Appendix C: Recovery Scenario Timeline.............................................................................................75
Appendix D: Recovery Scenario Communication Dilemmas............................................................76
SPARS PANDEMIC
2025 - 2028
A Futuristic Scenario for Public Health Risk Communicators
THE JOHNS HOPKINS C ENTER FOR HEALTH S ECURITY
,Project Team
Monica Schoch-Spana, PhD Matthew P. Shearer, MPH
Senior Associate Senior Analyst
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Emily K. Brunson, PhD, MPH Sanjana Ravi, MPH
Associate Professor Senior Analyst
Texas State University Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Tara Kirk Sell, PhD, MA Hannah Chandler
Senior Associate MPH Candidate
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Columbia University
Gigi Kwik Gronvall, PhD
Senior Associate
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Recommended Citation
Schoch-Spana M, Brunson EK, Shearer MP, Ravi S, Sell TK, Chandler H, Gronvall GK. The
SPARS Pandemic, 2025-2028: A Futuristic Scenario for Public Health Risk Communicators.
Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; October 2017.
, About the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security works to protect people from epidemics and
disasters and build resilient communities through innovative scholarship, engagement, and
research that strengthens the organizations, systems, policies, and programs essential to
preventing and responding to public health crises. The Center is part of the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health and is located in Baltimore, MD.
Learn more at www.centerforhealthsecurity.org
, Table of Contents
Preface
A Possible Future in 2025: The “Echo Chamber”..................................................................................1
Response
Chapter One: The SPARS Outbreak Begins............................................................................................4
Chapter Two: A Possible Cure....................................................................................................................8
Chapter Three: A Potential Vaccine........................................................................................................11
Chapter Four: Users Beware.....................................................................................................................14
Chapter Five: Going Viral..........................................................................................................................19
Chapter Six: The Grass is Always Greener...........................................................................................23
Chapter Seven: The Voice..........................................................................................................................25
Chapter Eight: Are You Talking To Me?..............................................................................................29
Chapter Nine: Changing Horses Midstream.........................................................................................31
Chapter Ten: Head of the Line Privileges..............................................................................................34
Chapter Eleven: Standing in Line, Protesting Online.........................................................................37
Chapter Twelve: Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket................................................................40
Chapter Thirteen: Lovers and Haters.....................................................................................................43
Chapter Fourteen: The Grass is Always Greener, Part II.................................................................49
Chapter Fifteen: Are You Talking to Me, Part II................................................................................52
Chapter Sixteen: Antibiotics, HO!............................................................................................................55
Recovery
Chapter Seventeen: Vaccine Injury..........................................................................................................59
Chapter Eighteen: Acknowledging Loss................................................................................................63
Chapter Nineteen: SPARS Aftermath.....................................................................................................66
References & Appendices
References......................................................................................................................................................67
Acronyms.......................................................................................................................................................68
Appendix A: Response Scenario Timeline.............................................................................................69
Appendix B: Response Scenario Communication Dilemmas............................................................73
Appendix C: Recovery Scenario Timeline.............................................................................................75
Appendix D: Recovery Scenario Communication Dilemmas............................................................76
