With WHO finally declaring Coronavirus as a global pandemic, different countries across the world have decided to take extreme necessary steps to secure themselves and their citizens from the rapidly spreading disease! Countries have sealed their borders and stopped air travel from outside countries to restrict the spreading of the disease. While people are panicking and taking necessary safety measures to avoid conceiving the infection, there rises a need for people to understand that proper hygiene and safety measures can help people avoid the spreading of COVID-19. But did you know that we have had even more severe pandemics in the past that have tested humanity? Here is a list of the 7 worst Pandemics that affected the world before the Coronavirus outbreak.
HIV/ AIDS PANDEMIC
Death Toll: 36 Million
Most Active Years: 2005 – 2012
HIV was first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, back in 1976 and was proven as a global pandemic after it claimed the lives of 36 million people across the world. Even till this date, there are almost 35 million people who live with the virus. However, with the increasing awareness in the people, the newer cases of HIV have gone considerably down. Just between 2005 and 2012, the global death caused from HIV has dropped 1.6 million.
FLU PANDEMIC
Death Toll: 1 Million
Most Active Years: 1968, 2009
Also referred to as the Hong Kong Flu, this category 2 pandemic was caused by the deadly H3N2 strain of Influenza A Virus, which was a genetic hybrid of the H2N2 strain. The pandemic spread across countries like Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, India, United States and Europe. The disease killed only 500,000 people in Hong Kong alone, that was almost 15% of its entire population. There were also other flu pandemics that were observed before this which were called as the Asiatic Flu, Russian Flu, etc. each time claiming more than 1 million deaths each time.
ASIAN FLU
Death Toll: 2 Million
Most Active Years: 1956 – 1958
The Asian Flu was caused by influenza A, H2N2 strain that had originated in China. The outbreak started in 1956 and lasted for almost 2 years, until 1958. The disease travelled from the Guizhou province of China to countries like Hong Kong, Singapore and also United States. The flu claimed the lives of 2 million people alone, with around 69,800 deaths only in USA.
SIXTH CHOLERA PANDEMIC
Death Toll: 800,000 and more
Most Active Years: 1910 – 1911
The sixth Cholera pandemic originated in India and spread across Russia, Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa, killing more than 800,000 people across. The pandemic also hit America, but at the end of its spread and killed just 11 people, mostly because the health authorities in America quickly worked on isolating the infected to avoid the spread. Although the number of Cholera cases has gone down, it is still prevalent in India.
THE BLACK DEATH
Death Toll: 75 – 200 Million
Most Active: 1346 – 1353
One of the most severe pandemic spread across the planet, the Black Death broke out in 1346 and continued spread until 1353, killing almost 75 to 200 million people. The disease broke out like a plague spread from one continent to the other via fleas that lived on the body of rats, and spread through the merchant ships. The disease originated in Asia, and devastated 3 huge continents during its wake.