In the year 2020, the Coronavirus plague the world like never before, and many were convinced that COVID-19 is the most deadliest pandemic ever recorded. Spoiler alert: it isn’t. By contrast, there are several diseases that plagued humanity for decades — if not centuries — that left a festering pile of damage in their trail. The COVID pandemic is still at large, and we must confess that it isn’t going to make the list of the ten deadliest pandemics ever recorded in human history.
Related media: Pandemics Worse Than Novel Coronavirus In The History Of Mankind
#10. Third Cholera Pandemic (1852 – 1860)
Disease: Asiatic cholera;
Infection: Bacterial; Agent: Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 or O139; Mode: consuming water from contaminated sources;
Symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting, and severe dehydration;
Death toll: approx. 23,000 casualties.
Have you ever been infected with Cholera before?
#9. Asian Flu (1956 – 1958)
Disease: Influenza;
Infection: Viral; Agent: probably wild ducks and human mutations; Mode: contagious, air borne;
Symptoms: coughing, headache, severe fever, loss of appetite, chills, and fatigue.
Death toll: approx. 1 to 4 million casualties.
Have you ever been infected with Influenza before?
#8. WWI Typhus (1918 – 1922)
Disease: Typhus;
Infection: Bacterial; Agent: infestation with lice; Mode: contact with louse infested people;
Symptoms: severe headache and backache, delirium, diarrhea, coughing, fatigue, high fever, and very high temperature.
Death toll: approx. 2.5 million casualties.
Have you ever been infected with Typhus before?
#7. Cocoliztli (1545 – 1548 & 1576 -1578)
Disease: Cocoliztli;
Infection: Viral; Agent: hemorrhagic fevers; Mode: contact with infected patients;
Symptoms: black tongue, dysentery, severe abdominal pain, bleeding from eyes, nose and mouth.
Death toll: approx. 5 to 15 million casualties.
Have you ever been infected with Cocoliztli before?
#6. Antonine Plague (165 – 180 C.E)
Disease: Bubonic plague or probably smallpox;
Infection: Bacterial; Agent: probably smallpox virus; Mode: contact with infected patients;
Symptoms: coughing, running nose, high fever, diarrhea, body rash 3 to 5 days later.
Death toll: approx. 5 to 10 million casualties.
Have you ever been infected with the Plague before?
#5. HIV/AIDS (1980 – present)
Disease: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome;
Infection: Viral; Agent: Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Mode: sexual transmission, blood contact with infected items;
Symptoms: weakened immune system, fever, loss of weight, fatigue, body weakness, and finally death.
Death toll: approx. 10 million casualties and still counting.
Have you ever been infected with HIV before?
#4. Justinian Plague (541 – 542 C.E)
Disease: Bubonic plague;
Infection: Bacterial; Agent: rodents carrying plague-infested fleas (Yersinia pestis); Mode: contact with infected patients;
Symptoms: sudden fever, headache, chills, swollen lymphs, vomiting, rashes, gangrene and an increased sensitivity to light.
Death toll: approx. 30 to 50 million casualties.
Have you ever been infected with the Plague before?
#3. Spanish Flu (1918 -1920)
Disease: Influenza;
Infection: Viral; Agent: H1N1 influenza; Mode: contagious, air borne;
Symptoms: severe fever, coughing, headache, soar throat, chills, running nose, loss of appetite, and fatigue.
Death toll: approx. 25 to 50 million casualties.
Have you ever been infected with Influenza before?
#2. SmallPox (1870-1874)
Disease: Variola;
Infection: Viral; Agent: variola virus; Mode: contact with infected patients;
Symptoms: headache, backache, rashes, small bump, blister, scab, fever, chills, and vomiting.
Death toll: approx. 300 million casualties.
Have you ever been infected with Smallpox before?
#1. The Black Death (1346 – 1353)
Disease: Bubonic plague;
Infection: Bacterial; Agent: migrating rodents or fleas; Mode: contact with infected patients;
Symptoms: fever, coughing with blood, chills, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, rashes, bubo, delirium, and an increased sensitivity to light — hence the name “Black.”
Death toll: approx. 75 to 200 million casualties.
Have you ever been infected with the Plague before?
What’s even more? Hong Kong Flu (1968 – 1969), Third Plague Pandemic (1855 – 1959),
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Written by: Nana Kwadwo, Sun, Nov 07, 2021.
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