Abstract
The pandemic potential of already known zoonotic viruses and the risk of emergence of new ones is estimated by WHO as one of the major threats to humanity. The zoonotic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is already the third of this large group of viruses to emerge in the 21st century, surprising the human population with its transmission efficiency and adaptability. The rate of virus spread is unpreceden- ted in human history, and a contributing factor is our global networking – transport connections that shorten the geographical distance between regions and continents. Regionally, the rate of spread of local populations varies, depending on demographic and socio-economic characteristics and the pandemic management strategy pursued. In Poland, the spread of infections, the contribution of individual variants in waves of infections are shifted by about one season in relation to Western Eu- ropean countries, which is typical for Central European countries. Large numbers of deaths recorded in Poland, but also in general in Central and Eastern European countries during epidemics indicate the need to improve health care in terms of strategies dedicated to epidemiological management in practice: preparing the health care system to respond to crisis situations, conducting an effective vac- cination policy, developing dedicated programmes to protect social groups particularly vulnerable to the effects of infection.