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7 Most Deadly Epidemics in History

12 May

There are certain illnesses that quickly and easily reached epidemic heights. Though their symptoms and passing methods may vary, the devastation that they present are all the same.

The Black Death: This was also known as the Bubonic Plague and it has a terrible story. This bacteria is spread through rats and gets into the human bloodstream very quickly. It is so dangerous and has such awful and far reaching effects that it killed a third of the population when it hit in the fourteenth century. It had such horrible effects that this is what other epidemics are often called by as a generic name.

AIDS: This is a scary one because it is very current and very easily spread. This retrovirus is spread through the sharing of blood or bodily fluids, therefore many people were affected by it through sex or sharing a contaminated drug needle. Though much is known about it now in terms of prevention, it reached epidemic proportions in the 1990s and it killed many people along the way.

Influenza: Though many people don’t think of this common illness as an epidemic, it has been just that at certain points in time. In the early 1900’s, influenza was believed to have killed more people than in war. This is spread through a virus and though it is often contained through flu viruses, new strains seem to pop up every year. It does kill people every year, though many people may not realize the severity of it.

Smallpox: This is known as one of the most deadly and most contagious epidemics known to man. When it affects people, it is believed to kill up to a third of those infected. There were vaccinations for awhile that seemed to kill it off, but it is scary as it has been said to be a potential consideration for terrorist groups to use as a weapon because it is such a deadly epidemic.

Cholera: This is an extreme gastrointestinal illness that can really wreak havoc on the body. There is such a loss of fluids from the body that the person suffering can go into shock and have multiple symptoms to cope with. This has been an epidemic as it is so contagious and has such far reaching effects.

H1N1: This is a strain of the flu, but it is a current one that has caused a tremendous amount of trouble. This has been in the news very recently because of the devastating effects that it had. This extreme type of flu caused a whole slew of symptoms that made coping and keeping up with this epidemic very difficult. Fortunately with the new vaccine, there has shown to be some promise to it reaching much further.

Malaria: Though it may not be an issue in certain parts of the world, in an area such as Africa this disease has reached epidemic heights. It is spread through mosquitos and so just one bite and you are infected with this disease. Malaria stars with the mosquito bite and then quickly spreads through the bloodstream and into the organs causing major problems. Therefore this is an epidemic that still requires some time and attention, though it is under better control than it once was.

Though illness may strike all of us at some time, there epidemics are in a category all their own. These can be scary and highly contagious presenting a great deal of problems for anybody in the path.

M.M. Frederick writes about how to acquire a masters in public health.

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