The "Global Health Epidemic and Panic" (General Outbreaks)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "Global Health Epidemic and Panic" (General Outbreaks)

• What happened: In "Homer the Heretic" (1992), there is a subplot about a town-wide health crisis caused by a mysterious, contagious illness. While it's not explicitly stated, the scene is similar to what you might expect during an outbreak.
• Reality: The Simpsons have tackled various viral and disease-related issues over the years, and while not every instance correlates to a specific real-world epidemic, the show's treatment of global health crises often mirrors the sense of panic, government response, and societal reactions we see in reality during such times.