The Biggest Outbreaks Throughout History

Ebola

This is another modern disease that is already taking its place in history as one of the worst possible outbreaks. Ebola is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever. This means that it causes a dangerously high fever while also causing patients to bleed internally and externally. Many of its victims end up perishing due to low blood pressure from excessive fluid loss. On average, the virus claims half of all the patients it infects, and individuals who are already weak have an increased chance of not surviving this terrible virus. The disease had its first identified outbreak in 1976 in Africa. Since then, there have been several other outbreaks. Altogether, it has resulted in thousands of casualties. Though primarily in West Africa, it has spread to a few other continents as well.

Measles

Measles is a highly infectious disease that causesred-spotted skin, a runny nose, and a high fever. The fever itself can be fatal, and many patients suffer from even more serious complications like pneumonia and brain inflammation. This condition has been around since ancient times. Most of the time, it is present at low levels in all communities, but occasionally, a flare up sweeps through a large population. Many scientists estimate that the horrible plagues of the antiquities, such as the Antonine Plague of 165-180 AD, may have actually been measles. This disease has been particularly devastating when a population without any immunity encounters it. For example, the measles has claimed the lives of half of the population of Honduras in 1529, and in the 1850s, it wiped out twenty percent of all Hawaiians. Before the vaccination, roughly eight million children died each year from this disease.