The world has faced deadly and highly contagious diseases in the past, with death tolls potentially reaching millions during an outbreak.
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| MERS Outbreak: In 2012, a new virus originating from camels emerged in the Middle East and gradually became a global pandemic. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is now spreading at an alarming rate. Since 2012, MERS outbreaks have occurred in 25 countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of June 7th, 1,179 people had been infected with the MERS virus, and 442 had died. South Korea alone, considered the "epicenter" of the outbreak, has reported 95 cases and 7 deaths from the disease. (Photo: CNN). |
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| Ebola Outbreak: The Ebola pandemic was a terrifying event for all of humanity in 2014. The WHO confirmed nearly 7,000 deaths from the virus. The pandemic's devastating impact infected 70% of the West African population. Ebola outbreaks were most severe in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Currently, no way to prevent Ebola has been found. Scientific efforts to test vaccines are being intensified. Photo: Huffingtonpost. |
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| H1N1 Flu: In 2009, the H1N1 flu outbreak shocked the world. It spread rapidly to 214 countries and killed 18,000 people out of a total of 575,000 infected. In August 2010, the WHO declared H1N1 a global pandemic. Photo: CNN. |
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| SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is caused by a coronavirus. The first case, in 2002, was a Chinese national. Within weeks, the outbreak spread to 37 countries via air travel. Approximately 8,000 people worldwide were infected, and 800 died. Most infected patients developed pneumonia and contracted the infection through contact with bodily fluids (sputum, nasal discharge, saliva) from infected individuals when they spoke or coughed.. |
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| The HIV/AIDS pandemic: HIV is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in humans. Without a properly functioning immune system, people with HIV/AIDS are more susceptible to other infections, leading to death. The virus spreads through blood and bodily fluids. Most people become infected through sexual contact or sharing needles with an infected person. HIV/AIDS has caused 1.5 million deaths among 35 million infected people. (Image: Asiasociety). |
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| The Spanish Flu: The 1918-1919 Spanish Flu was the largest global pandemic, infecting 500 million people—one-third of the world's population at the time. The pandemic killed approximately 20-50 million people, according to History. The disease first appeared in Europe, then spread to the United States and parts of Asia. It was dangerous because its initial symptoms were similar to those of a common flu. In severe cases, the patient's skin turned blue, they coughed violently leading to vomiting, and experienced urinary incontinence. The virus aggressively attacked the lungs, and many victims died from pneumonia. (Image: Wikipedia). |
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| Plague: Plague is a terrifying disease with a high mortality rate in human history, a dangerous infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The disease is primarily transmitted from rodents to humans via fleas as intermediaries. Those infected experience symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, necrosis, and swollen lymph nodes, especially in the armpits and groin. Known as the "Black Death," during the period 1346-1350, the plague spread, shaking Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and northern Asia. Two-thirds of those infected died within just four days. (Image: Ibtimes). |
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Cholera: Cholera has ancient origins. The disease appeared in Asia around 600 BC and was first documented by medical professionals in India in 1563. A major epidemic occurred on both land and sea trade routes to Russia in 1817. It then spread to the rest of Europe and North America. In total, approximately seven major cholera epidemics occurred within 200 years, claiming the lives of millions of people. (Image: Nacoes)
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| Smallpox: Smallpox is one of the most dangerous epidemics humanity has ever suffered. The smallpox virus has affected human lives and livelihoods for thousands of years. People infected with smallpox experience high fever, body aches, and a rash with hard or pustular lesions. Normal individuals who come into skin contact with or come into contact with bodily fluids from an infected person are also at risk of contracting the disease. In 1796, during a smallpox epidemic in Europe, an English doctor successfully conducted experiments to create a vaccine against the disease, but outbreaks still occasionally occur. (Image: Asylum). |
(According to Zing.vn)
