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15 of the Worst Pandemics in History

Pandemics have persistently threatened mankind, causing illness, death, and societal upheaval. Despite medical advancements, history's worst pandemics have caused extensive harm. Let's delve into their origins, impacts, and lessons.

The Black Death

The Black Death likely started from fleas on rats, spreading from Asia to Europe via ships. Despite advancements in medicine, around 1,000 to 3,000 cases of this deadly disease are still reported yearly.

The Spanish Flu

The Spanish Flu 1918 infected 500mn worldwide, causing up to 50mn deaths. Like COVID-19, it led to public space closures. The second wave was deadlier, reducing US life expectancy by 12 years.

Third Cholera Pandemic

The Third Cholera Pandemic spread globally from 1846-1860, starting in India. It killed over 5,000 in NYC alone. Vibrio cholerae was identified as the cause in 1883.

HIV/Aids

The HIV/AIDS Global Pandemic still impacts the world. As of 2020, 37.7M people had HIV. There were 1.5M new infections and 680K deaths that year.

Antonine Plague

The Antonine Plague significantly contributed to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, impacting religion, military, and economy.

Russian Flu

The Russian flu, originating in Siberia in 1889, quickly spread globally, infecting millions. It's unclear if the disease was a mutated influenza or an unknown pathogen but it greatly influenced modern medicine and health policies.

Asian Flu

In 1957, an Asian Flu from China spread globally, causing 2 million deaths. This accelerated vaccine development.

Sixth Cholera Pandemic

The Sixth Cholera Pandemic started in India in 1899 and lasted until 1920s, spreading through trade routes to Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Poor sanitation caused millions to perish.

Hong Kong Flu

The Hong Kong Flu emerged in Hong Kong, quickly spreading worldwide including the U.S, causing around one million deaths—mostly elderly. The pandemic led to U.S economic downturn and school closures.

COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 emphasizes the link between human and animal health, likely jumping from animals to humans. Reports of animals catching COVID-19 raise concerns about reverse transmission.

Cocoliztli Epidemic

The Cocoliztli Epidemic, one of the deadliest, killed up to 45% of Mexico's native population. Many died within days with symptoms like jaundice and severe bleeding. A 2018 study suggests a salmonella strain from European colonizers may have caused this catastrophe.

Plague of Justinian

The Plague of Justinian was a devastating bubonic plague transmitted by fleas and rats on Byzantine Empire's merchant ships. It significantly weakened the empire.

Third Plague Pandemic

In mid-19th century, the Third Plague Pandemic devastated across the globe, hitting China hardest. This period also saw medical advancements that helped prevent future plague outbreaks.

1520 Mexico Smallpox Epidemic

Spanish colonizers brought diseases to Mexico decimating indigenous populations. In 1520, smallpox killed 40% of Tenochtitlán’s 200K inhabitants; critical to the city's conquest.

1918–1922 Russian Typhus Epidemic

From 1918-1922, a typhus epidemic ravaged Serbia and Russia, causing 30 million infections and claiming 3 million lives. This weakened Russian military, prolonged WWI, and allowed Germany to redeploy troops.

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