TOP 10 PANDEMICS AND EPIDEMICS OF THE WORLD

Edited by, SANTHOSH KUMAR

An epidemic is a disease that affects a large population within a community. A pandemic is more of an epidemic which spreads over multiple countries or continents.

Here are the top 10 pandemics and epidemics that the world suffered most.

10) Russian Typhus epidemic

Epidemic typhus also called louse borne typhus, develops in the regions where the civil life is disrupted. This situation is usually found in regions after a war or natural disasters. The causative organism was found to be rickettsia prowazekki transmitted by human body louse. Untreated case of typhus can lead to a fatality rate of 40%.

This epidemic is what caused a shake in the Russian population with a death toll of 2-3 million and a maximum of 1.6% of its population was said to be lost due to this epidemic.

Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, rashes, nausea and vomiting. After a week a macular skin eruption develops first on the upper trunk and spreading to the body i.e., face, palms and soles of foot.

9) Mexican Smallpox Pandemic (1520)

As of 16th century, Small pox was an unknown disease not only in Mexico, but for  most of the countries including America. It costed the lives of many Mexicans with a death toll of about 5-8 million which was about 23-37% of the population during that time.

Small pox is an infectious disease condition caused by one of the two virus variants Variola major and minor. It is a contagious disease which spreads through saliva, skin to skin contact, blood products and so on. It shows flu like symptoms, rashes on face, fore-arms, hands and later on the torso.

8) Covid-19 Pandemic

As we all know this is the current pandemic prevailing in the world with its variants ruling over the world by killing people.

The death toll is around 9 million as of July 25th.

Corona virus is the causative of this pandemic which causes respiratory problems which eventually leads to the death of the patient if the respiratory illness is not taken care of. With the prevailing vaccines all over the world, the pandemic is controlled as of now.

7) Antonic Plague

It is said that the Roman empire suffered a huge loss due to this plague with death toll being around 10 million which costed 25-33% of the roman population.

The plague was actually small pox and measles but wasn't diagnosed at those periods due to lack of technology. As mentioned above it is a condition caused by variants like variola major and minor which could be fatal if not treated.

6) Cocolitzi Epidemic (1545-1548)

It was regarded as the worst pandemic in the history of Mexico. The name of this epidemic comes from the condition it caused i.e., Cocoitzi, a mysterious illness characterized by fever and bleeding. Recent bacterial genomic studies say the causative organism is Salmonella enterica known as Paratyphi C and it seems it was responsible for the initial outbreak of the disease.

5) Third Plague Pandemic

Third plague pandemic is also known as the bubonic plague pandemic costed around 10 million in India, it is said that the disease originated in China. The pandemic said to be active until 1960. The disease spread to every neighbouring continents and it seems the entire world suffered from it.

Bubonic Plague is a disease caused by a bacterium Yersinia pestis. Symptoms arise after a few days and the symptoms are fever, vomiting and persistent headaches. And swelling of the lymph  nodes proximal to bacteria entry site.

4) Pandemic of HIV/AIDS

HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus is always considered a global pandemic and on 2018 alone there seemed to be 7.7 lakh people dead from AIDS and 37.9 million people infected with HIV.

HIV is a transmissible virus belonging to the lentivirus genus of Retroviridae family which disrupts the body's immune system and the hosts body available to all dieases. They target the T lymphocytes especially the CD4+ T lymphocytes. It is transmtted from person to person through utensils or blood, semen etc. HIV is categorized int 4 stages and the symptoms appear at later stages.

As of 2021 the world is till fighting against HIV which prevails to lack of public awareness.

3) Plague of Justinian

It is the bubonic plague that threatened the world at different ages and got different names based on the regions affected. This plague afflicted the Western Europe and Asiatic regions.

2) Spanish flu (1918-1920)

Infuenza virus is the causative organism of this Spanish flu. One third of the world's population seems to be affected by this virus and the death toll being between 20 and 50 million. It prevailed as 4 wves slaying the world.

HIN1/Influenza virus can be deadly if not treated. The flu infects the lungs, nose and throat. People with weakened immune system are at higher risk by this virus. It easily spreads via air or contact with infected utensils.

Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches and fatigue etc.

1) Black Death (1346-1353)

Black death i.e, bubonic plague, as said earlier it gets its name by the region it affects. It is said that the fleas carrying the bacterium first affected the black rats which eventually spread to humans. It is the deadliest disease recorded in human history. As of now large part of Europe, Asia and North Africa have suffered huge losses due to it. The death toll being around 200 million which costed 30-60% of the European population.

Disease rolls out every time in every generation, but still the world goes on and life moves on. Hope we'll jump out of this pandemic soon and look forward towards the bright future ahead.