The problem of the spread of the coronavirus epidemic is now being widely discussed not only in the media, but also in legislative and executive authorities, business and scientific circles around the world, including in Russia. The article provides a brief overview of the main epidemics that occurred in modern world history, their impact on the economy of individual countries and the world economy as a whole. The main attention is paid to the analysis of the impact degree of epidemics and pandemics on the transport sector of the economy. The specificity of the impact of the spread of mass diseases on the functioning of transport system and its' economic security is shown. Possible directions of organizational and legal support for the activities aimed at minimizing the consequences of the pandemic on the economic security of transport are substantiated. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2020.