Final answer:
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has spread to more countries and involved more people than either the SARS or MERS outbreaks, with millions of cases and deaths worldwide, showcasing an unprecedented global impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
In comparison to the 2002 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak and the 2012 Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak, COVID-19 has indeed spread to more countries and involved more people. Originating in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, swiftly became a global challenge. Unlike SARS, which affected over 8,000 people, and MERS, which infected 1,300 individuals, COVID-19 exponentially surpassed these numbers with millions infected worldwide. By October 2021, there were approximately 248 million cases and more than 5 million deaths globally, as COVID-19 exploited the interconnectedness of our modern world.
Transmission occurred via droplets from infected individuals through common actions such as talking, coughing, and sneezing. As a result, the contagion was alarmingly efficient in its spread, which was further exacerbated by global travel and technological advancements that facilitated rapid movement of people. Pandemic containment measures included quarantines, travel restrictions, and lockdowns, characteristic of an intense struggle to control the virus's spread. This situation clearly shows the unparalleled scale of COVID-19 in comparison to its predecessors, SARS and MERS, in terms of global impact and health system challenges.