top button
Flag Notify
    Connect to us
      Site Registration

Site Registration

10 most Deadliest Epidemics Diseases in History with images

+2 votes
4,595 views

10 most Deadliest Epidemics Diseases in History
Throughout history, disease has afflicted millions of people in many parts of the world causing much pain and suffering in the form of illness, disability, and death. The word pandemic means an epidemic of infectious disease that has spread through human populations across a large geographic region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. Pandemics originate from microscopic enemies, such as parasites, viruses and bacteria, which may be passed to us from infected people,animals, or insects.

1. The Antonine Plague (165 AD)

The Antonine Plague (165 AD)

As Roman troops returned home from Mesopotamia around 165 AD, they unknowingly brought back a disease, which eventually killed five million people over the next ten years; a 25% mortality rate. The Antoine plaque was probably caused by Smallpox. 

The Antonine Plague outbreak world map

This outbreak killed more Romans than any other outbreak, which had a dramatic effect on the Roman Empire, resulting in severe weakening of the troops and coincided with the decline of the Roman Empire after a 300-year reign.

2. The Plague of Justinian (541)

The Plague of Justinian

This was a particularly devastating pandemic killing up to 10,000 people a day in Constantinople alone. A disease, that is now believed to be the bubonic plague, claimed half the population of Europe in 541AD estimated at 25 million, which resulted in a serious labor and military shortage, resulting in the decline of the Byzantine Empire.

It all started when a ship with rat-infested grain arrived in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire and then went onto Egypt. Of course, the rats were infected with fleas that carried the Yersinia Pestis bacteria, responsible for Bubonic Plague.

3. Smallpox (581)

Smallpox

Following a 12,000-year scourge, smallpox claimed between 300 and 500 million lives. Now it has been eradicated through successful worldwide vaccination. Over time, Smallpox ravaged the world as a contagious and fatal disease that caused raised bumps, or ‘pox’ over the kin of a person’s face and body and multi-system failures killed 30% of its victims.
Smallpox outbreak world map

Interestingly, our presidents George Washington, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln all contracted and recovered from smallpox. The last case in the United States was in 1949. Although the variola virus is eradicated, there is concern that the virus could be used as a bioterrorism agent.

4. The Black Death (1347)

The Black Death

This could be the most infamous of all pandemics eventually claiming up to 375 million lives as it ravaged Europe and spread into Asia in the 14th century. Often referred to simply as The Plague it was transmitted by rats and fleas and even respiratory droplets spread when coughing. 
Black Death spread in europe
Starting in 1331, it is estimated to have claimed 30-60% of the population of Europe.

5. Yellow Fever (1793)

Yellow Fever (1793)

This disease is related to malaria in that it spreads from person to person through infected mosquitoes. Responsible for taking millions of lives and wiping out entire colonies and villages during the time of Napoleon’s reign, yellow fever still persists in areas of Africa and South America. While some infections are less severe than others, it is a life-threatening disease that can cause severe internal bleeding and liver failure, which is marked by the yellowing of the skin –  prompting this disease’s name. 

Yellow Fever  breakout world map

The most famous Yellow Fever epidemic occurred in 1793 in the Untied States in Philadelphia, PA, when over 4,000 people died in a span of only four moths. Today, the disease still exists, and there are an estimated 200,000 cases of yellow fever, causing 30,000 deaths worldwide each year.

6. Cholera (1800's)

Chilera

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacteria Vibro cholera, which lives in contaminated water or food and can kill within hours if left untreated. Of the three to five million cases of Cholera every year, 100,000 to 120,000 result in death following severe fluid loss and diarrhea in excess of 10 liters per day. 

cholera outbreak world map

Fortunately, most cases can be treated successfully with simple oral rehydration. Cholera can be prevented with clean water and sanitation systems and is a very rare occurrence in industrialized nations.

7. Malaria (1880)

Malaria

Malaria affects many tropical regions of the world including Africa, Asia, parts of the Americas, infecting over 200 million people and killing an estimated 660,000 every year. It is caused by a parasite that breeds in infected mosquitos and is passed to people through a mosquito bite. Malaria is preventable and treatable, but without intervention, symptoms may become life threatening.
Malaria outbreak world map
Today, there are 104 malaria-endemic countries, where the notorious mosquito threatens both natives and travellers to those countries. Common preventive measures include mosquito netting, pesticides, and anti-malarial drugs.

8. Tuberculosis (1918)

Tuberculosis (TB)

Strains of this disease have been traced back to the DNA of ancient Egyptian mummies, revealing that this epidemic has been wreaking havoc on humanity for thousands of years. Caused by a bacteria that spreads through the air, this disease attacks the lungs and causes internal weakness, chest pains, night sweats, and terrible fits of coughing. 

Infection Landscapes: Tuberculosis

In the 19th century, tuberculosis killed an estimated one-quarter of the adult population of Europe, and by 1918 one in six deaths in France were still caused by TB. Today, the disease is still around, affecting nearly 8 million people a year  and leading to the death of about 2 million of those infected.

9. Influenza (1981)

Influenza is the 7th largest killer in the U.S. today. Over the past 300 years, this virus has been responsible for three pandemics including the H1 Spanish Flu, H1N1 Swine Flu, and the H5N1 Avian (Bird) Flu. In 1918, the Spanish Flu devastated the population killing 50 million people. The most recent strain of Avian (Bird) Flu, the deadly virus known as H5N1, occurred in 2009.

This virus is highly contagious causing serious outbreaks in domestic poultry in Asia and the Middle East. Although it usually doesn’t infect humans, there have been over 600 cases reported in 15 countries since 2003.

10. SARS (2002)

SARS

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a serious case of pneumonia, which was first reported in 2003 when an outbreak spread across numerous countries in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Originating in China, the virus spread from small mammals to people infecting over 8,000 people in a matter of weeks and took 774 people lives. Although SARS did not claim a large number of lives, it made the top ten list because it is demonstrates viral mutation from an animal to human infection and changed the way we respond to global spread of infectious disease with the current fluidity of worldwide travel. 

SARS outbreak world map

SARS is caused by the coronavirus, and is spread much like the common cold, through close person-to-person contact and respiratory coughs and sneezes. Fortunately, there have been no further outbreaks of SARS, although the World Health Organization has designated it as a global threat.

References

Source: microhealthllc Healtcare blog
Image Source: Google, WHO Image Gallery
posted Oct 18, 2016 by Ankitha

  Promote This Article
Facebook Share Button Twitter Share Button LinkedIn Share Button


Related Articles

Textaphrenia is a condition which affects one in ten teenage texters; sufferers experience delusions, mood swings and denial of their problem. It most commonly manifests as text hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre text delusions, or disorganized texting and thinking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • If you are prone to attacks of anxiety, depression, low self- esteem, and use your mobile phone to send an excessive amount of text messages, then you could be the latest victim to suffer from the little known, modern day disease of Textaphrenia.
  • Today, sending and receiving text messages is seen to be a normal activity; it’s a more convenient way to keep in touch with your nearest and dearest, and it’s often a cheaper alternative to spending endless hours making a telephone call.
  • Largely recognised as a condition that affects teens across the globe, another sure sign that you are over using your SMS service is RTS (Repetitive Thumb Syndrome). 
  • While this activity may seem harmless to you and I, a study, conducted by Indore-based Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College (MGMMC) on 150 youths aged between 18 and 25 years, reveals that those who frequently use SMS developed feelings of uneasiness, irrational anger and sleeplessness.
  • Shocking statistics from this study indicate that a good proportion of young people experience feelings of upset, rejection and anxiety if their text messages are not replied to.
  • The word ‘Textaphrenia’ is a term used to describe the action of constantly checking your mobile phone after sending a message, in anticipation of a prompt reply. Even though we all have a set ringtone to alert us of a new text message, a Textaphrenia sufferer will still insist on looking at their phone screen.
  • Ever had the feeling your phone has just notified you of a new SMS but there’s actually nothing there? If your answer is yes, then perhaps you can relate to some of the other symptoms and diagnose yourself with this latest technological addiction.
READ MORE
...