Some of the deadliest diseases in human history include acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), cholera, influenza, smallpox, bubonic plague, and COVID-19. According to MPH Online (2021), the influenza pandemic of 1918 had the highest death rate of up to 50 million people. Another pandemic was HIV/AIDs identified first in 1976, but it reached its peak between 2005 and 2012 (MPH Online, 2021). Since 1981 HIV/AIDs has killed over 36 million people, becoming a global issue (MPH Online, 2021). In addition to HIV/AIDS, the third (the 1850s) and sixth cholera (1910) epidemics killed many people (MPH Online, 2021). Cholera has had a repetitive reoccurring nature, and it originated in India. Finally, the world experienced the most recent pandemic in 2019, COVID-19. The COVID-19 death toll today is at 6.26 M, with 519M cases (MPH Online, 2021). Although similarly devastating, these pandemics are different in how they can be transmitted and eradicated.
One of the leading causes of pandemics is a viral infection. COVID-19 and influenza, for instance, are viruses that attack the respiratory system. The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 spreads through the air when people receive contaminated droplets as they breathe in or touch infected fluids. AIDS is caused by a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) – it spreads through sexual intercourse and infected blood. Cholera is a bacterial infection spread through ingested contaminated foods and liquids. It is challenging to eradicate quickly spreading diseases – thus, prevention becomes the primary tool in addressing their impact. In the cases of COVID-19 influenza, masks, hand hygiene, and vaccination are used. AIDS is managed similarly by educating people about safe sex and needle use. Moreover, antiretroviral therapy is used for treating HIV, but no cure for AIDS has been developed. For such infections as cholera, sanitation is seen as the major source of improvement.
Overall, deadly diseases continue to affect whole communities to this day. Such diseases as AIDS still do not have an effective cure, and some countries have many cases. Other conditions such as cholera are managed with nonpharmaceutical measures. The most recent infection that caused a pandemic is COVID-19, and it is combated with preventive measures and vaccination. Deadly diseases are better managed with the help of modern medicine, but science still has many problems it needs to solve.
Reference
MPH Online. (2021). Outbreak: 10 of the worst pandemics in history.