The ten most serious plagues in human history, each of which can be called a disaster.
Cholera, plague, smallpox and flu are the most cruel killers in human history. International outbreaks of these diseases are properly defined as epidemics, especially smallpox. Throughout history, smallpox has caused 300 million to 500 million deaths.
HIV/AIDS epidemic (peaked in 20/200512)
Death toll: 36 million
Cause: HIV/AIDS
It was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 1976, and has been proved to be a global epidemic since 198 1, resulting in more than 36 million deaths. At present, the number is between 3 1 10,000 and 35 million, and the vast majority of HIV-infected people are in sub-Saharan Africa. With the improvement of people's awareness, new treatments have been developed, which makes it easier to control HIV, and many infected people continue to live a normal life. From 2005 to 20 12, the number of AIDS deaths worldwide dropped from 2.2 million to 65,438+600,000 every year.
Epidemic influenza (1968)
Death toll: 6,543.8+0,000.
Reason: a?
1968 influenza epidemic was caused by influenza A virus H3N2 strain, which is a gene branch of H2 N2 subtype. From the first reported case 1968 in Hong Kong on July 3rd, only 17 days later, Singapore and Vietnam reported the outbreak of the virus, and within three months, it spread to the Philippines. India, Australia, Europe and the United States, although the death rate of 1968 epidemic was relatively low (0.5%), still caused more than10 million deaths, including 500,000 Hong Kong residents, accounting for about 15% of the population at that time.
Asian influenza (1956- 1958)
Death toll: 2 million
Reason: a?
Influenza is caused by a subtype of influenza A (H 1N 1), which started at 1956 and continued at 1958. During the two-year frenzy, Asian influenza spread from Guizhou and China to Singapore, Hongkong and the United States. Estimates of the number of influenza deaths in Asia vary from source to source, but the final statistics of the World Health Organization show that about 2 million people have died, and 69,800 people have died in the United States alone.
Death toll: 200 million to 50 million
Cause: flu
From 19 18 to 1920, a disturbing and deadly influenza epidemic broke out around the world, infecting one third of the global population and causing 200 million to 50 million deaths. Of the 500 million people who had an epidemic in 19 18, the estimated death rate was 10% to 20%, and 25 million people died in the first 25 weeks alone. 19 18 The cause of influenza is different from other influenza outbreaks. In the past, the flu only killed the elderly or weakened the patients' abilities, but now it has begun to attack the tenacious and completely healthy young people.
The sixth cholera epidemic (1910-1911)
Death toll: 800,000
Cause: cholera
Like the previous five incarnations, the sixth cholera epidemic originated in India, killing more than 800,000 people, and then spread to the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Russia. The sixth cholera epidemic was also the root of the last cholera epidemic in the United States (1910-191year). American health authorities learned the lessons from the past and quickly isolated the infected people. In the end, only 1 1 people died in the United States. By 1923, the number of cholera cases has been greatly reduced, although it has not changed in India.
Epidemic influenza (1889- 1890)
Death toll: 6,543.8+0,000.
Cause: flu
What was the original name of this strain? Asian flu? Or? Russian flu? Although influenza A (H3N8) virus was discovered recently, it is still considered as influenza A (H2N2) virus. 1889 In May, the first case was observed in three distant places: Bukhara (Stan, Turkey) in Central Asia, athabasca and Greenland in the northwest of Canada. /kloc-the rapid population growth in the 0/9th century, especially in urban areas, only contributed to the spread of influenza and swept the world quickly. Although this was the first real pandemic in the bacteriology era, we also learned a lot from it. 1889- 1890 The epidemic of influenza killed more than1100,000 people.
The third cholera epidemic (1852- 1860)
Death toll: 6,543.8+0,000.
Cause: cholera
It is generally regarded as the deadliest of the seven cholera epidemics. /kloc-the third cholera epidemic occurred in 1852 to 1860 in the 9th century. Like the first and second epidemics, the third cholera epidemic originated in India, spread from the Ganges Delta, and then passed through Asia, Europe, North America and Africa, causing more than 6.5438+million deaths. John snow, a doctor from England, tracked cholera cases while working in poor areas of London, and finally succeeded in determining that polluted water was the transmission route of the disease. Unfortunately, the year he discovered (1854) became the worst year of the epidemic. That year, 23,000 people in Great Britain died of the Black Death (1346- 1353).
Death toll: 75 million to 200 million
Cause: brucellosis
1346 to 1353, plagues broke out in Europe, Africa and Asia, and the estimated death toll was between 75 million and 200 million. Plague is thought to have originated in Asia and probably spread to the European continent through fleas parasitic on mice, which usually live on merchant ships. Port was the main city center at that time, and it was an ideal breeding ground for rats and fleas. So latent bacteria proliferated and later destroyed three continents.
The plague in Justinian (54 1-542)
Death toll: 25 million
Reason: Justin Nian Animal Plague
It is believed that at that time, nearly half of the population in Europe died of plague, and plague broke out in Byzantine Empire and Mediterranean port cities, killing 25 million people. Justinian plague is usually considered as the first bubonic plague. It left its mark on the world, killing a quarter of the population in the eastern Mediterranean and destroying the city of Constantinople. At the peak, about 5,000 people died every day in the city, which eventually led to the death of 40% of the city's population.
Anthony Plague (A.D. 165)
Death toll: 5 million
Reason: unknown
Antonin Plague, also known as Galen Plague, is an ancient epidemic, spreading to Asia, Egypt, Greece and Italy. It is thought to be smallpox or measles, although its real cause is not clear. This unknown disease was brought back to Rome by soldiers who came back from Mesopotamia about 165 years ago. Unconsciously, they spread a disease, which eventually killed 5 million people and destroyed the Roman army.
How about COVID-19 (novel coronavirus)?
From 20 19 to 12, humans began to appear in novel coronavirus. It was named COVID-19, wasn't it? Coronavirus 20 19? Abbreviation of. This new virus spreads rapidly from person to person, and no one on earth is immune to COVID-19. The virus spread all over the world in a few months. According to the latest data released by WHO, as of 23: 05 on 24th, there were 3 confirmed cases of pneumonia in COVID-191664104, with 97,222 deaths worldwide. The infection rate in the United States and other countries is still rising.
With the outbreak of coronavirus, people all over the world are increasingly aware of the best practices during the epidemic, from careless hand washing to staying away from social distance. All countries in the world have declared mandatory? Are you home? Measures to close schools, enterprises and public places. Dozens of companies and more independent researchers began to study and test vaccines. Efforts to promote human survival in this epidemic have become the most important concern in the world. At the time of writing, it is impossible to predict the outcome of the COVID-19 epidemic. However, we can learn from the historical epidemic.
Health care has always been one of the main issues of global concern. Although the number of students participating in medical research is increasing, the quality of medical facilities is still not up to standard, especially among low-income groups. Technological progress may have reduced the intensity or frequency of some diseases, but there are still some diseases that are not extinct. In particular, disease outbreaks (epidemics) that affect many people are more harmful to society and need to be cured quickly. The epidemic will affect many industries around the world, such as real estate, catering and finance!