The
Most Dangerous Epidemics/pandemic in History
A look back
The
words pandemic and epidemic are very similar-sounding, but their meanings are
distinct. According to the CDC, the Centers for Disease Control, an epidemic is when
there is an increase,
often sudden, in instances of a disease, above a normal level, for a
certain population. An endemic level of instances of a disease is the usual
amount of cases present during normal circumstances. For instance, every year,
there is an endemic level of flu infections.
Pandemic,
on the other hand, refers to an epidemic that has spread to a whole range of
countries or continents, affecting a large amount of people. A spotlight has
been shown on the field of epidemiology as news reports detail the unfolding of
the coronavirus pandemic across the world over the last few months.
Whereas
An epidemic is when an infectious disease spreads within a community or area
during a specific time period.
Death
Toll: 5 million
Cause: Unknown
Also known as the Plague of Galen, the Antonine Plague was an ancient pandemic that affected Asia Minor, Egypt, Greece, and Italy and is thought to have been either Smallpox or Measles, though the true cause is still unknown. This unknown disease was brought back to Rome by soldiers returning from Mesopotamia around 165AD; unknowingly, they had spread a disease which would end up killing over 5 million people and decimating the Roman army.
Cause: Unknown
Also known as the Plague of Galen, the Antonine Plague was an ancient pandemic that affected Asia Minor, Egypt, Greece, and Italy and is thought to have been either Smallpox or Measles, though the true cause is still unknown. This unknown disease was brought back to Rome by soldiers returning from Mesopotamia around 165AD; unknowingly, they had spread a disease which would end up killing over 5 million people and decimating the Roman army.
PLAGUE
OF JUSTINIAN (541-542)
Death
Toll: 25 million
Cause: Bubonic Plague
Thought to have killed perhaps half the population of Europe, the Plague of Justinian was an outbreak of the bubonic plague that afflicted the Byzantine Empire and Mediterranean port cities, killing up to 25 million people in its year long reign of terror. Generally regarded as the first recorded incident of the Bubonic Plague, the Plague of Justinian left its mark on the world, killing up to a quarter of the population of the Eastern Mediterranean and devastating the city of Constantinople, where at its height it was killing an estimated 5,000 people per day and eventually resulting in the deaths of 40% of the city’s population.
Cause: Bubonic Plague
Thought to have killed perhaps half the population of Europe, the Plague of Justinian was an outbreak of the bubonic plague that afflicted the Byzantine Empire and Mediterranean port cities, killing up to 25 million people in its year long reign of terror. Generally regarded as the first recorded incident of the Bubonic Plague, the Plague of Justinian left its mark on the world, killing up to a quarter of the population of the Eastern Mediterranean and devastating the city of Constantinople, where at its height it was killing an estimated 5,000 people per day and eventually resulting in the deaths of 40% of the city’s population.
THE
BLACK DEATH (1346-1353)
Death
Toll: 75 – 200 million
Cause: Bubonic Plague
From 1346 to 1353 an outbreak of the Plague ravaged Europe, Africa, and Asia, with an estimated death toll between 75 and 200 million people. Thought to have originated in Asia, the Plague most likely jumped continents via the fleas living on the rats that so frequently lived aboard merchant ships. Ports being major urban centers at the time, were the perfect breeding ground for the rats and fleas, and thus the insidious bacterium flourished, devastating three continents in its wake.
Cause: Bubonic Plague
From 1346 to 1353 an outbreak of the Plague ravaged Europe, Africa, and Asia, with an estimated death toll between 75 and 200 million people. Thought to have originated in Asia, the Plague most likely jumped continents via the fleas living on the rats that so frequently lived aboard merchant ships. Ports being major urban centers at the time, were the perfect breeding ground for the rats and fleas, and thus the insidious bacterium flourished, devastating three continents in its wake.
1633-1634: Smallpox from European settlers
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Smallpox came to North America in the
1600s. People had symptoms of high fever, chills, severe back pain, and rashes.
Starting from the Northeast, smallpox wiped out entire Native American
tribes. Over 70 percent of the Native American population dropped. In 1721, 844
of the 5,889 Bostonians who had smallpox died from it.
End: In 1770, Edward Jenner developed a
vaccine from cow pox. It helps the body become immune to smallpox without
causing the disease.
Now: After a large vaccination initiative in 1972,
smallpox is gone from the United States. In fact, vaccines are no longer
necessary.
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Philadelphia was once the nation’s capital and
its busiest port. One humid summer, refugees leaving a yellow fever epidemic in the Caribbean
Islands sailed in, carrying the virus with them. Yellow fever causes yellowing
of the skin, fever, and bloody vomiting. Five thousand people died, and 17,000
fled the city.
End: The vaccine was developed and then
licensed in 1953. One vaccine is enough for life. It’s mostly recommended for
those 9 months and older, especially if you live or travel to high-risk areas.
You can find these specific countries at the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
Now: Mosquitoes are key to how this disease
spreads, especially in countries like Central and South America and Africa.
Eliminating them has been successful in controlling yellow fever. While yellow
fever has no cure, someone who does recover from the illness becomes immune for
the rest of their life.
Death
Toll: 1 million
Cause: Cholera
Generally considered the most deadly of the seven cholera pandemics, the third major outbreak of Cholera in the 19th century lasted from 1852 to 1860. Like the first and second pandemics, the Third Cholera Pandemic originated in India, spreading from the Ganges River Delta before tearing through Asia, Europe, North America and Africa and ending the lives of over a million people. British physician John Snow, while working in a poor area of London, tracked cases of cholera and eventually succeeded in identifying contaminated water as the means of transmission for the disease. Unfortunately the same year as his discovery (1854) went down as the worst year of the pandemic, in which 23,000 people died in Great Britain.
Cause: Cholera
Generally considered the most deadly of the seven cholera pandemics, the third major outbreak of Cholera in the 19th century lasted from 1852 to 1860. Like the first and second pandemics, the Third Cholera Pandemic originated in India, spreading from the Ganges River Delta before tearing through Asia, Europe, North America and Africa and ending the lives of over a million people. British physician John Snow, while working in a poor area of London, tracked cases of cholera and eventually succeeded in identifying contaminated water as the means of transmission for the disease. Unfortunately the same year as his discovery (1854) went down as the worst year of the pandemic, in which 23,000 people died in Great Britain.
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The United States had three serious waves
of cholera, an infection of the intestine,
between 1832 and 1866. The pandemic began in India, and swiftly spread across
the globe through trade routes. New York City was usually the first city to
feel the impact. An estimated two to six Americans died per day during the
outbreak.
End: It’s unclear what ended the pandemics, but it
may have been the change in climate or quarantines. The last documented
outbreak in the United States was in 1911. Immediate cholera treatment is
crucial, as it can cause death. Treatment includes antibiotics, zinc
supplementation, and rehydration.
Now: Cholera still causes nearly 130,000
deaths a year worldwide, according to the CDCTrusted Source. Modern sewage and water treatment
have helped eradicated cholera in some countries, but the virus is still
present elsewhere.
You can get a vaccine for cholera if you’re
planning to travel to areas that are high-risk. The best way to prevent cholera
is to wash hands regularly with soap and water, and avoid drinking contaminated
water.
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Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection that
can occur after strep throat. Like cholera, scarlet
fever epidemics
came in waves. During the 1858 epidemic, 95 percent of people who caught the
virus were children.
End: Older studies argue that scarlet fever
declined due to improved nutrition, but research shows that improvements in
public health were more likely the cause.
Now: There is no vaccine to prevent strep
throat or scarlet fever. It’s important for those with strep throat symptoms to
seek treatment as quickly as possible. Your doctor will typically treat scarlet
fever with antibiotics.
Death
Toll: 1 million
Cause: Influenza
Originally the “Asiatic Flu” or “Russian Flu” as it was called, this strain was thought to be an outbreak of the Influenza A virus subtype H2N2, though recent discoveries have instead found the cause to be the Influenza A virus subtype H3N8. The first cases were observed in May 1889 in three separate and distant locations, Bukhara in Central Asia (Turkestan), Athabasca in northwestern Canada, and Greenland. Rapid population growth of the 19th century, specifically in urban areas, only helped the flu spread, and before long the outbreak had spread across the globe. Though it was the first true epidemic in the era of bacteriology and much was learned from it. In the end, the 1889-1890 Flu Pandemic claimed the lives of over a million individuals.
Cause: Influenza
Originally the “Asiatic Flu” or “Russian Flu” as it was called, this strain was thought to be an outbreak of the Influenza A virus subtype H2N2, though recent discoveries have instead found the cause to be the Influenza A virus subtype H3N8. The first cases were observed in May 1889 in three separate and distant locations, Bukhara in Central Asia (Turkestan), Athabasca in northwestern Canada, and Greenland. Rapid population growth of the 19th century, specifically in urban areas, only helped the flu spread, and before long the outbreak had spread across the globe. Though it was the first true epidemic in the era of bacteriology and much was learned from it. In the end, the 1889-1890 Flu Pandemic claimed the lives of over a million individuals.
1906-1907: “Typhoid Mary”
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One of the biggest typhoid fever epidemics of all time broke out
between 1906 and 1907 in New York. Mary Mallon, often referred to as “Typhoid
Mary,” spread the virus to about 122 New Yorkers during her time as a cook on
an estate and in a hospital unit. About five of those 122 New Yorkers passed
away from the virus. Annually, 10,771 people passed away from typhoid fever.
Medical testing showed that Mallon was a
healthy carrier for typhoid fever. Typhoid fever causes sickness and red spots
to form on the chest and abdomen.
End: A vaccine was developed in 1911, and an
antibiotic treatment for typhoid fever became available in 1948.
Now: Today typhoid fever is rare. But it can
spread through direct contact with infected people, as well as consumption of
contaminated food or water.
Death
Toll: 800,000+
Cause: Cholera
Like its five previous incarnations, the Sixth Cholera Pandemic originated in India where it killed over 800,000, before spreading to the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Russia. The Sixth Cholera Pandemic was also the source of the last American outbreak of Cholera (1910–1911). American health authorities, having learned from the past, quickly sought to isolate the infected, and in the end only 11 deaths occurred in the U.S. By 1923 Cholera cases had been cut down dramatically, although it was still a constant in India.
Cause: Cholera
Like its five previous incarnations, the Sixth Cholera Pandemic originated in India where it killed over 800,000, before spreading to the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Russia. The Sixth Cholera Pandemic was also the source of the last American outbreak of Cholera (1910–1911). American health authorities, having learned from the past, quickly sought to isolate the infected, and in the end only 11 deaths occurred in the U.S. By 1923 Cholera cases had been cut down dramatically, although it was still a constant in India.
1918: “Spanish flu”
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Death
Toll: 20 -50 million
Cause: Influenza
Between 1918 and 1920 a disturbingly deadly outbreak of influenza tore across the globe, infecting over a third of the world’s population and ending the lives of 20 – 50 million people. Of the 500 million people infected in the 1918 pandemic, the mortality rate was estimated at 10% to 20%, with up to 25 million deaths in the first 25 weeks alone. What separated the 1918 flu pandemic from other influenza outbreaks was the victims; where influenza had always previously only killed juveniles and the elderly or already weakened patients, it had begun striking down hardy and completely healthy young adults, while leaving children and those with weaker immune systems still alive. End: After the end of World War I, cases of the flu slowly declined. None of the suggestions provided at the time, from wearing masks to drinking coal oil, were effective cures. Today’s treatments include bed rest, fluids, and antiviral medications.
Cause: Influenza
Between 1918 and 1920 a disturbingly deadly outbreak of influenza tore across the globe, infecting over a third of the world’s population and ending the lives of 20 – 50 million people. Of the 500 million people infected in the 1918 pandemic, the mortality rate was estimated at 10% to 20%, with up to 25 million deaths in the first 25 weeks alone. What separated the 1918 flu pandemic from other influenza outbreaks was the victims; where influenza had always previously only killed juveniles and the elderly or already weakened patients, it had begun striking down hardy and completely healthy young adults, while leaving children and those with weaker immune systems still alive. End: After the end of World War I, cases of the flu slowly declined. None of the suggestions provided at the time, from wearing masks to drinking coal oil, were effective cures. Today’s treatments include bed rest, fluids, and antiviral medications.
Now: Influenza strains mutate every year, making
last year’s vaccinations less effective.It’s important to get your yearly
vaccination to decrease your risk for the flu.
Death
Toll: 2 million
Cause: Influenza
Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of Influenza A of the H2N2 subtype, that originated in China in 1956 and lasted until 1958. In its two-year spree, Asian Flu traveled from the Chinese province of Guizhou to Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States. Estimates for the death toll of the Asian Flu vary depending on the source, but the World Health Organization places the final tally at approximately 2 million deaths, 69,800 of those in the US alone.
Cause: Influenza
Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of Influenza A of the H2N2 subtype, that originated in China in 1956 and lasted until 1958. In its two-year spree, Asian Flu traveled from the Chinese province of Guizhou to Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States. Estimates for the death toll of the Asian Flu vary depending on the source, but the World Health Organization places the final tally at approximately 2 million deaths, 69,800 of those in the US alone.
FLU
PANDEMIC (1968)
Death
Toll: 1 million
Cause: Influenza
A category 2 Flu pandemic sometimes referred to as “the Hong Kong Flu,” the 1968 flu pandemic was caused by the H3N2 strain of the Influenza A virus, a genetic offshoot of the H2N2 subtype. From the first reported case on July 13, 1968 in Hong Kong, it took only 17 days before outbreaks of the virus were reported in Singapore and Vietnam, and within three months had spread to The Philippines, India, Australia, Europe, and the United States. While the 1968 pandemic had a comparatively low mortality rate (.5%) it still resulted in the deaths of more than a million people, including 500,000 residents of Hong Kong, approximately 15% of its population at the time.
Cause: Influenza
A category 2 Flu pandemic sometimes referred to as “the Hong Kong Flu,” the 1968 flu pandemic was caused by the H3N2 strain of the Influenza A virus, a genetic offshoot of the H2N2 subtype. From the first reported case on July 13, 1968 in Hong Kong, it took only 17 days before outbreaks of the virus were reported in Singapore and Vietnam, and within three months had spread to The Philippines, India, Australia, Europe, and the United States. While the 1968 pandemic had a comparatively low mortality rate (.5%) it still resulted in the deaths of more than a million people, including 500,000 residents of Hong Kong, approximately 15% of its population at the time.
1921-1925: Diphtheria epidemic
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Diphtheria peaked in 1921, with 206,000
cases. Diphtheria causes swelling of the mucous membranes, including in your
throat, that can obstruct breathing and swallowing. Sometimes a bacterial toxin
can enter the bloodstream and cause fatal heart and nerve damage.
End: By the mid-1920s, researchers licensed a
vaccine against the bacterial disease. Infection rates plummeted in the United
States.
Now: Today more than 80 percent of children
in the United States are vaccinated. Those who contract the disease are treated
with antibiotics.
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Polio is a viral disease that affects
the nervous system, causing paralysis. It spreads through direct contact with
people who have the infection. The first major polio epidemic in the United
States occurred in 1916 and reached its peak in 1952. Of the 57,628 reported
cases, there were 3,145 deaths.
End: Three years later, Dr. Jonas Salk developed a
vaccine. By 1962, the average number of cases dropped to 910. The CDCTrusted Source reports that the United States
has been polio-free since 1979.
Now: Getting vaccinated is very important before
traveling. There’s no cure for polio. Treatment involves increasing comfort
levels and preventing complications.
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Measles is a virus that causes a fever,
runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat, and later a rash that spreads
over the whole body. It’s a very contagious disease and can spread through the
air. In the early 20th century, most cases involved children, due to inadequate
vaccination coverage.
End: Doctors began to recommend a second
vaccine for everyone. Since then, each year has had fewer than 1,000 cases.
Now: The United States experienced another
outbreak of measles in 2014 and 2015. The CDC reportsTrusted Source that this outbreak was identical
to the measles outbreak in the Philippines in 2014. Be sure to get all the
vaccinations your doctor recommends.
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One of Milwaukee’s two water treatment plants
became contaminated with cryptosporidium, a parasitic disease that causes
dehydration, fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. About 403,000 became ill, and
more than 100 people died, making it the largest waterborne outbreak in United
States history.
End: Most people recovered on their own. Of
the people who passed, the majority had compromised immune systems.
Now: Improved water filtrations helped eradicate
this disease, but an estimated 748,000 cases of cryptosporidium still occur
each year. Cryptosporidium spreads through soil, food, water, or contact with
infected feces. Be sure to practice personal hygiene, especially when camping.
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Pertussis, known as whooping cough, is highly
contagious and one of the most commonly occurring diseases in the United
States. These coughing attacks can last for months. Infants too young for
vaccination have the highest risk for life-threatening cases. Ten infants died
during the first outbreak.
End: A whooping cough outbreak comes every three to
five years. The CDC reportsTrusted Source that an increase in the number
of cases will likely be the “new normal.”
Now: The occurrence of the disease is much less
than it was. The CDC recommendsTrusted Source that pregnant women get a
vaccination during the third trimester to optimize protection at birth.
HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC (AT ITS PEAK, 2005-2012)1980s
to present: The leading cause of early death
Death
Toll: 36 million
Cause: HIV/AIDS
Cause: HIV/AIDS
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HIV a
rare lung infection, First identified
in Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1976, has truly proven itself as a
global pandemic, killing more than 36 million people since 1981. Currently
there are between 31 and 35 million people living with HIV, the vast majority
of those are in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 5% of the population is infected,
roughly 21 million people. . Now we know that HIV damages the body’s
immune system and compromises its ability to fight off infections. AIDS is the final stage of HIV and
the 6th leading cause of death in the United States among people 25 to 44 years
old.
HIV may be transmitted sexually or through
blood/body fluids from person to person. It can be transmitted from mother to
unborn baby if not treated.
Now: While there is no cure for HIV, you can
decrease your risk through safety measures like making sure your needles are
sterilized and having protected sex. Safety measures can be taken during
pregnancy to prevent the disease from being transmitted from an infected mother
to child. For emergencies, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a new
antiretroviral medicine that prevents HIV from developing within 72 hours.
WHAT ABOUT COVID-19 (THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS)?
Is this outbreak an epidemic or a pandemic?
The outbreak
was declared a pandemic on March 11. A pandemic is defined by the World Health
Organization as the 'worldwide spread of a new disease'.
Previously,
the UN agency said most cases outside of Hubei had been 'spillover' from the
epicentre, so the disease wasn't actually spreading actively around the world.
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