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Pandemic… In the spring of 2020, humanity had to face this phenomenon again. Even the high level of development of medicine did not help: a huge number of infected people around the world, about 300 thousand deaths (as of May 14).
Of course, this pandemic was not the first. There are many terrible diseases that have claimed many more lives. In some cases, the human population even turned out to be on the verge of extinction.
If you are interested in this topic, pay attention to our ranking of the worst pandemics in human history.
10 smallpox
Died: 300 to 500 million people
A viral infection that is transmitted by airborne droplets and enters the body through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth. The disease got its name because of the characteristic rashes, after the resolution of which deep scars remain on the skin.
The first cases of black smallpox date back to the 40th century. Residents of Asian countries suffered: China, India, Japan. Doctors did not know how to treat them, so the death rate reached 1,5%. The virus gradually began to spread around the world: Europe, the Americas. Between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, about XNUMX million people died from this disease every year.
Talking about the total number of victims of smallpox is meaningless. “God’s punishment”, as it was called, raged for many centuries. Thanks to her, doctors invented a vaccine (1796), but it was too early to talk about the victory over the virus. In the 500th century, smallpox killed about 1977 million people worldwide. Mass vaccination helped stop the spread of the virus. The last case of infection was registered in XNUMX.
9. Plague
Died: about 140 million people
An acute infectious disease characterized by a high mortality rate. A frightening figure – up to 99% with a pulmonary form. The causative agent is the plague bacillus, which was discovered in 1984.
Three plague pandemics are known, which at different times claimed a huge number of human lives:
- The Plague of Justinian lasted from 541 to 700. During this time, 100 million people died. Started in Egypt, then spread throughout the civilized world.
- The Black Death in 7 years (1346 – 1353) killed a third of the population of Europe. The epidemic began in East China, after which it “walked” through European countries.
- The third pandemic began in the middle of the XNUMXth century. Residents of port cities suffered. The number of victims was small. The plague swept India, China, the Azores, but did not reach Europe.
8. Cholera
Died: tens of millions of people
Acute intestinal infection, which for a long time was considered a local disease. The inhabitants of South America, India, Africa, Southeast Asia were exposed to it. In the 1816th century, it spread throughout the world. The death toll is in the tens of millions. During the period from 1966 to XNUMX, seven pandemics were recorded that raged in different parts of the world, including Russia. For now, cholera outbreaks still occur, mostly in poor countries. This terrible disease no longer poses such a danger as before.
7. Typhus
Died: about 3,5 million people
The collective name, until the middle of the XIX century, this included a whole group of infectious diseases. Now they are divided into several types: typ, abdominal, recurrent. The most widespread is typhus, which has become an integral part of wars, natural disasters, famine and devastation. The first typhoid pandemic broke out during the Peloponnesian War (430 – 427 BC) in Athens. 25% of the population of the country died, as well as a fourth of the Athenian army. In Russia, typhus spread during the First World War, the death toll was 3,5 million people.
6. Flu
Died: up to 500 people die every year
Acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract. More than 2 influenza viruses have been identified so far. Seasonal epidemics of this disease no longer surprise anyone. Up to 500 people worldwide die from it every year. Sometimes this number is multiplied. In the last couple of decades, people have been afraid of “bird” and “pig”.
The most widespread pandemic is the “Spanish flu”. It began in January 1918 and lasted almost two years. A third of the world’s population has been ill with the “Spanish flu”, the death toll varies from 50 to 100 million people. The fact is that the virus raged during the First World War, so it is impossible to establish the exact number of victims of the disease.
5. Tuberculosis
Died: up to 2 million people die every year
An infectious disease that most often affects the lungs. It infects a third of the world’s population. Every year, 8 million people fall ill, a quarter of them cannot cope with the disease. If you start treatment at an early stage, there is every chance of defeating tuberculosis. But a comprehensive treatment program was developed only in the twentieth century, previously the disease was considered incurable.
In the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, tuberculosis caused the death of a tenth of the population of Europe. Then the disease was nicknamed the Great White Plague.
An interesting fact. Tuberculosis ended the lives of many talented and famous people. Among them are Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, Franz Kafka, Charlotte Bronte, Fryderyk Chopin, Vivien Leigh.
4. Malaria
Died: Every 30 seconds a person dies in the world
An infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a female “malarial mosquito”. Often found in tropical and subtropical regions. 90% of all infections occur in Black Africa, this part of the continent, which is located south of the Sahara.
It wasn’t always like that. Until the 60s of the twentieth century, malaria was also sick in the USSR. The peak of the disease occurred in 1934 – 1935, the number of infected exceeded 9 million people. Now in Russia cases of malaria are sometimes recorded, but they are all “imported”. For example, in 2018, when the World Cup was held, 148 diseases were registered. In Africa, Asia and America, the situation is still critical, with one person dying from malaria every 30 seconds in the world.
3. Leprosy
Died: unknown
A chronic disease characterized by a long incubation period (up to 5 years). Affects the skin, upper respiratory tract, nervous system. Leprosy is mentioned in the Old Testament, but opinions are divided on this point. Some scientists believe that the disease arose much later.
Leprosy dominated the world for four centuries from the 202th to the XNUMXth, the number of deaths and illnesses is not known. The infected were “buried alive.” A person was buried, they were given special clothes and a ratchet. He was unable to communicate with others. If he went outside the house, he had to notify people of his approach with a loud rattle. When the number of infected people increased, they began to open special institutions – leper colonies. Now leprosy is a rare disease; XNUMX patients are registered in Russia.
2. ВИЧ
Died: about 36 million people
The term “human immunodeficiency virus” appeared in 1986, the first cases of the disease were recorded in 1981. Scientists have proven that the virus has existed since the 20s of the twentieth century. It is transmitted as a result of direct interaction of the mucous or damaged skin of a healthy person with the biological fluids of an infected person or the use of non-sterile instruments.
After contracting HIV infection, a person can live no more than 10 years. In the case of antiretroviral therapy, this period will increase significantly. That’s just therapy is prescribed either with a high viral load, or with a decrease in immunity. From 1981 to the present, 36 million people have died from HIV infection. The number of infected people in Russia is 1% of the total population, but this figure is arbitrary. To find out your HIV status, you need to get tested. It is not uncommon for people to die without knowing they have AIDS. The HIV pandemic is hidden. This is a disease that is not customary to talk about.
Died: as of May 14, 2020 – 297 thousand people
An acute respiratory infection that began its spread in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019. On January 30, 2020, an emergency of international importance was declared in the field of healthcare, already on March 11, the epidemic was recognized as a pandemic. The number of infected in the world exceeded 4,4 million, the death toll – 297 thousand people (as of May 14, 2020). This figure is growing steadily. The disease occurs in both mild and severe form. COVID-19 is not fully understood yet. Virologists say that the consequences may not be very pleasant: brain damage, infertility, decreased immunity. The death rate is not very high, but the virus is spreading at a tremendous rate, with the elderly and people with chronic diseases at risk.
Russia ranks second in the world in terms of the number of infected, but it is too early to talk about stabilization, our country has not yet reached a plateau. It remains only to observe all safety measures and hope for the best.