Since we live in a society, it is normal that we are more vulnerable to the spread of diseases. Some are easy to contain, but others can trigger a global pandemic and cause many victims.
The three deadliest pandemics in history
Although there is not complete certainty about the numbers, especially for older pandemics, there is until now a consensus as to the deadliest in history. Let’s start with 3rd place, which of the three had the fewest casualties, although the number was still quite high.
3 – AIDS or HIV
This pandemic, detected in the early 1980s in the United States, caused so far more than 40 million deaths and it is estimated that around 38 million people are infected with this virustwo thirds of which are recorded in Africa.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is spread through the bodily fluids of infected people, such as blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids. Even though AIDS is incurable, advances in medicine have allowed patients to live long and dignified lives. thanks to new treatments, early diagnosis and, above all, prevention and awareness strategies.
2 – The Black Death or Bubonic Plague
This pandemic – which reached its peak between 1347 and 1353 – is considered the most devastating in human history. It comes from the bacillus Yersinia pestis, transmitted by rat fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis).
In just six years, between 60 and 65% of the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula have died. It is also estimated to have caused between 30 and 75 million deaths in Eurasia.
One of the most famous images of the Black Death is that of spiked masks. These masks were used because, due to the lack of knowledge about the disease at the time, the infection was thought to be spread through contaminated air.
1 – Smallpox
First, we have the smallpox pandemic which cost the lives of around 500 million people ! It is believed to have originated in India and traces of it can be found in Asia and Africa before the Christian era.
It is believed to have been the most likely culprit in the mysterious, catastrophic epidemic in Athens which, according to Thucydides, killed a third of the population in 430 BC, triggering the decline of this democratic civilization.
Fortunately, a vaccine promoted by Lady Montagu and tested by Edward Jenner in 1796 gradually stopped the spread of this disease. So, in 1977, the last case of this disease was recorded, with a mortality rate of 30%.
What about Spanish flu or pneumonic flu?
As we already mentioned, there have been and still are several pandemics that are ravaging different societies. The Spanish flu, developed from the influenza virus, although not on this list due to the great uncertainty of victims, also stood out for its impact worldwide.
Although it is not on the list of the deadliest pandemics, it is estimated that this flu killed more people than AIDS and the Black Death.
Estimates put the death toll at between 17 and 100 million people. ! Some analyzes have shown that the virus is particularly deadly by triggering a cytokine storm, which destroys even the strongest immune system.
However, more recent studies claim that the great impact of this pandemic was due to malnutrition, lack of hygiene and overcrowded medical camps and hospitals (during World War I) which favored bacterial superinfection.
