At first glance, SARS-CoV-2 and cheese seem worlds apart. Yet, virologist Ian M. Mackay from the University of Queensland, Australia, devised the Emmental Cheese Model—a stack of cheese slices where each slice represents a key pandemic intervention, and its holes highlight inherent limitations.
According to Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center, COVID-19 has surpassed 179 million cases worldwide, with about 3.8 million deaths. Nearly 2.9 billion vaccine doses have been administered. While some nations have largely controlled the virus, others continue to battle outbreaks. Many have eased restrictions despite concerns over potential surges in coming weeks or months.
Ian M. Mackay developed the "Emmental Cheese Model" to illustrate the essential need for combining multiple interventions against COVID-19. First featured in the New York Times in December 2020, it was later translated into French by Courrier International and adapted into an interactive version by BBC Reel.
Building on the Swiss Cheese Model that gained traction on Twitter in October 2020, this diagram is straightforward and intuitive. Each cheese slice symbolizes a specific COVID-19 measure, with holes representing its flaws or gaps. As Mackay emphasizes, layering these interventions dramatically reduces overall risk, even if none is foolproof.
The model features about a dozen slices, split between "individual responsibility" (personal actions like physical distancing, mask-wearing, and hygiene) and "collective responsibility" (broader efforts such as rapid testing, contact tracing, vaccination, quarantine, and lockdowns). Mackay adds a touch of wit with a "misinformation mouse" gnawing extra holes in the cheese.
