{"id":14013,"date":"2020-02-05T05:56:14","date_gmt":"2020-02-05T05:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=14013"},"modified":"2021-05-05T16:39:49","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T16:39:49","slug":"14-worst-virus-outbreaks-in-recent-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-worst-virus-outbreaks-in-recent-history\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Worst Virus Outbreaks in Recent History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The recent Coronavirus outbreak is estimated to have started in Wuhan, China and spread to other parts of the world from there: Now, there are documented infections everywhere from the United States through to Europe – and there are many high-risk areas for potentially contracting the Coronavirus with thousands of people that have already been diagnosed and moved to quarantine to stop the virus from spreading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A virus outbreak such as the Coronavirus isn’t new: There have been other virus outbreaks throughout history that have also affected thousands (or in some cases, caused the illness of death of thousands or millions more). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virus, bacteria and disease pandemics happen once every few years, usually with a varying disease every time there is an outbreak: Immediate action is usually what stops the condition from spreading further than this, although some viruses pandemics are ongoing and need more funding, research, and action to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 14 of the worst virus outbreaks in history that weren’t unlike the Coronavirus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. HIV and AIDS <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

HIV <\/a>and AIDS are considered to be two separate conditions, but the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can become an AIDS infection under some circumstances where the proper treatment is not received in time.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Millions of people have been diagnosed with either HIV or AIDS – and many more walk around with the infection without having been tested for it; the rate of HIV\/AIDS infections is at such a height that this is true all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many parts of the world still don’t have access to the methods that help to prevent the transfer of HIV\/AIDS; many more are exposed to it through birth and many through other means like sex or accidental infection through needles. Sometimes it can even transfer through a botched blood transfusion. Other times, casual sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s bad enough to count as a serious pandemic that will take resources, education, and outreach to stop in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. TB<\/strong> (Bacterial Outbreak)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tuberculosis <\/a>(sometimes commonly referred to as TB for short) is one of the most commonly occurring diseases in the world, and it has potentially affected millions of people worldwide:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rate of tuberculosis infections is increasing, partially due to the fact that many people don’t have access to treatment (or don’t know to start it) and additionally due to the fact that many individuals don’t finish their course of anti-tuberculosis treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of a TB infection include coughing that lasts for several weeks to months at a time, eventually coughing up blood and a constant fever together with night sweats: What most people don’t realize is that there are also several types of TB in existence, and it can affect all of the tissue in the body that aren’t the lungs and make its way up to the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suspect that you or someone you know has TB, seek immediate treatment and complete the course as directed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. SARS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The acronym SARS <\/a>is short for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, and it’s one of the worst influenza-type infections the world has ever seen. The worst outbreak we’ve had yet affected the world in the year 2003, and it quickly spread to most of the world from there (in part thanks to people who traveled to infected areas and spread the disease without realizing it).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The condition affected anyone with a compromised immunity faster and worse than it did everyone else, and the disease caused a fair amount of fatalities over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though the worst of the SARS infection is considered to be eradicated, the condition is still on the World Health Organization’s watchlist as a pandemic due to the damage that is caused during the first outbreak and the fact that the condition is far from eradicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms can mirror several of the diseases on this list, including common colds and flu as well as serious varieties like swine or avian flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. The Zika Virus<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Zika virus<\/a> is a condition that most people first came to hear of during 2015 to 2016 when it became one of the most commonly searched terms during that period – and one of the worst virus pandemics that hit the world in a ten-year stretch. Between the years 2015 to 2016, approximately 1.5 million cases of the Zika virus was diagnosed (and many of them led to subsequent fatalities and the spread of the condition).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s still on the list of WHO world pandemics as one of the worst, and there are preventative measures in place (especially for women who are pregnant or intend to be and traveling). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though you might not have heard about the Zika virus in the news for a while, it’s still considered to be an active pandemic in many parts of the world – and one that you should keep in mind if you intend on traveling to any high-risk areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Avian Flu (or HSN1) <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Avian flu<\/a> (also known as HSN1) is theoretically a mutated and evolved version of the common influenza virus and is called avian flu due to the fact that it has been known to spread between birds before it started to spread through contact between birds and humans (as well as human-to-human contact through the further evolution of the condition).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2004 saw one of the worst current outbreaks of Avian flu in history so far: During approximately October 2005, the condition was identified in Turkey – and many other parts of the world from there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Millions of people were affected by the spread of avian flu: Those with compromised immunity due to age or due to medical conditions were the hardest hit by infections of avian flu, and many cases subsequently resulted in fatalities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s considered to be under control for the most part, but there are still isolated outbreaks of avian flu in some parts of the world: Check before you plan to travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Yellow Feve<\/strong>r<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yellow fever<\/a> is another one of the most serious virus outbreaks to hit human history in the past ten years, and there have been other prior outbreaks of yellow fever scattered throughout history and the world before. In recent years, there have been several documented outbreaks of yellow fever (mostly hitting underdeveloped areas of the world where there is a lack of vaccines, proper medical treatment for the condition and the education to make people realize why they need it) – and of course, anyone traveling to these parts of the world (especially with a lowered immune system) can be at potential risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World Health Organization identified a serious outbreak of yellow fever in November 2019: Regulations and guidelines have since been put in place to combat any potential infections of yellow fever in their country of origin and any people potentially traveling to these areas. Following these guidelines can greatly help to curb the infection rate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Swine Flu<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swine flu<\/a> (also called H1N1) is another seriously mutated variety of the common influenza virus that’s somewhat similar to avian flu, but with slightly different symptoms – and an eventual entirely different effect on the body. There have been several outbreaks in history, some in the past ten years, with thousands of people affected by swine flu all over the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time of the worst outbreak, proper control measures from world governments (and quick action by many healthcare professionals) helped to diagnose infected cases – and properly treat those that had been diagnosed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swine flu is still considered a pandemic, and many areas of the world are still at risk: You are more at risk of getting it if you are a risk factor due to a lowered immunity (or any chronic condition that could cause it). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have traveled to a high-risk “swine flu area”, see a doctor as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Common Flu<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The common flu is caused by the influenza <\/a>virus, and it affects so many millions of people all over the world every year that it can be called a large-scale virus outbreak even though most people don’t think of it as a serious health condition.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wylie the majority of people who get the common flu will just feel awful for the period of a week or so, many younger, older and immunity-compromised people will find themselves more seriously affected. This leads to an incredible amount of fatalities every year in several parts of the world as a result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, flu is considered a serious virus outbreak: Yes, flu vaccines can help – but only against one strain of the flu, while there are generally a few hundred others going around at the same time that you might not be vaccinated against too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you show symptoms of the flu, the best thing you can do is to see your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Meningitis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meningitis <\/a>is a very serious infection of the brain, and there have been many cases of meningitis outbreaks all over the world – including isolated outbreaks in hospitals where entire wards have been affected by the condition in a very short period of time.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The condition can be associated with other serious infections that might travel up to the brain, and you are more at risk of developing meningitis (and of it becoming fatal) if you have any other health conditions alongside it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The infection rate is bad enough in some parts of the world to classify it as a large-scale virus outbreak that’s watched by the World Health Organization for the potential of flare-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are more at risk if you are already suffering from a health condition, and you might increase your risk of traveling to parts of the world that are considered “high-risk” such as what’s called the African meningitis belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, one of the worst outbreaks was diagnosed during 2017 in Nigeria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever is a very serious condition that is common in areas that are both hot and humid, and common in areas that are frequented by ticks (or the animals which they most frequently prefer as hosts). If you intend on spending any time near an area that’s considered a hotbed for fleas or ticks<\/a>, make sure that you receive the proper information about how to handle ticks when you encounter them – and how to know if you have potentially contracted any of the potential conditions that are associated with a tick-bite.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever has been seen in several parts of the world throughout history with travelers to the area being most at risk. Get yourself checked if you’ve recently been in or near an area with diagnosed cases: This can stop the condition from becoming fatal and the symptoms from peaking to worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The condition can be treated, but early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Ebola Virus<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Ebola virus sounds like something straight out of the worst virus infection movie that you can think of: Symptoms of having contracted the Ebola virus are serious and can include internal bleeding and the shutting down of most of the internal organs within just a few hours to days of first exposure to the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, it’s a very real potential reality – and the Ebola virus outbreak has been flaring up in several parts of the world over the past few decades with increasing intensity, especially in developing countries where access to medical care can be difficult or expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the worst Ebola virus<\/a> infections were picked up between 2014 to 2016 in West Africa, and some parts of it are still considered to be at serious risk. The WHO has outlined how more people can protect against contracting the condition and it has so far helped to slow the overall infection rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Cholera<\/strong> (Bacterial Outbreak)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cholera <\/a>is a serious bacterial infection that is contracted mostly through contact with stagnant water that has been infected by the Cholera: The condition is considered to be a current bacterial outbreak on the WHO watchlist of world diseases and outbreaks, and millions of people have been affected by the Cholera bacteria – with many of these cases being unfortunately fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cholera is common anywhere stagnant, unclean water can be found: It can spread through direct contact with the water or anything that might have had recent contact with the infected water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms are serious and the condition can be fatal in a few hours without the right treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outbreaks of cholera are considered more common in developing areas without access to medical care, and in areas that have been recently hit by natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods that have allowed the bacteria to spread rapidly through an area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Black Death<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Black death isn’t a recent type of virus infection, and today it’s one that most people will come to read about in their history books as something that took place several hundred years ago: It’s still worth mentioning as a global virus outbreak due to the fact that it’s one of the overall worst pandemics <\/a>we have ever seen in human history – and a lot of what we know about the spread of virus outbreaks and how they work came from how we handled the initial spread of Black Death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The condition resulted in at least 100 million people dead and many more infected: This is officially one of the worst death-rates ever seen in human history due to an infection in such a short time period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the condition that causes black death has seen only very recent and isolated outbreaks but is still considered to be serious (and remains on the watchlist for potential worldwide infections as a result).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Measles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Measles <\/a>is a childhood infection that a lot of people get when they are children, but many people can also contract later on in life as adults (especially if they have never had it before, have never been vaccinated against it or have a compromised immune system and get exposed to direct infection of the measles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s considered a virus outbreak because of the fact that there are so many cases diagnosed worldwide every year, and there are preventative and protective measures put in place by the World Health Organization that tells health professionals and everyday people what to do in case of a measles outbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are estimated to be as much as 40 million potentially affected by measles infections: If you haven’t been vaccinated against it, you are at considerably more risk of contracting and spreading a very serious condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See your doctor if you show any symptoms, and speak to your doctor if you aren’t sure whether you were vaccinated against measles as a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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