All the terrible epidemics of history
The worst cases of infectious diseases are when they spread in the form of epidemics. The new corona virus is currently being declared a global epidemic. However, the past history of such infectious diseases is quite long.
Various diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, influenza, smallpox etc. have become epidemics at different times. As human civilization has progressed, so has the prevalence of epidemics. Because gradually cities, villages have developed, population density has increased. In addition, communication and trade between different regions has increased. As a result, there is a risk of the disease spreading rapidly. Let's take a look at some of the horrific epidemics that have killed countless people. Changed the course of history.
Various diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, influenza, smallpox etc. have become epidemics at different times. As human civilization has progressed, so has the prevalence of epidemics. Because gradually cities, villages have developed, population density has increased. In addition, communication and trade between different regions has increased. As a result, there is a risk of the disease spreading rapidly. Let's take a look at some of the horrific epidemics that have killed countless people. Changed the course of history.
1. 430 BC:
During the Peloponnesian War, a plague broke out in 430 BC. It spread to present-day Libya, Ethiopia, and Egypt, and then to Athens, the capital of Greece. The disease kills about two-thirds of the total population in the region. The main symptoms of the disease were fever, extreme thirst, bleeding in the throat and tongue, reddening of the skin and sores. Presumably, it was typhoid fever. It is said that the Athenians lost the war to the Spartans because of such an epidemic.
During the Peloponnesian War, a plague broke out in 430 BC. It spread to present-day Libya, Ethiopia, and Egypt, and then to Athens, the capital of Greece. The disease kills about two-thirds of the total population in the region. The main symptoms of the disease were fever, extreme thirst, bleeding in the throat and tongue, reddening of the skin and sores. Presumably, it was typhoid fever. It is said that the Athenians lost the war to the Spartans because of such an epidemic.
2. Justinian plague (541 AD):
The disease first spread in Egypt in the form of an epidemic. From there the epidemic spread throughout Palestine and the Byzantine Empire. The plague then spread throughout the Mediterranean region. Emperor Justinian was at that time planning to unify Byzantium with the Roman Empire. The plague destroys everything. The economic crisis began. The disease became epidemic at different times over the next two centuries. About 50 million people died. At the time, it was 26 percent of the world's population. The main carriers of this plague were rats. The disease is spread mainly through human movement from one region to another.
3. Leprosy (1100 AD):
Leprosy already existed. But in the Middle Ages the disease spread to Europe in the form of epidemics. Leprosy is a bacterial disease. Leprosy was a deadly disease until the discovery of antibiotics. Even today, millions of people are infected with leprosy every year. But due to the use of antibiotics, the disease no longer kills people.
4. Black Death (1348):
The black death or black plague carries a gruesome, heartbreaking and black history in the history of human civilization. Between 1348 and 1353 AD, between 80 and 200 million people died in Europe, Asia, and Africa, including the Middle East. In other words, one-third of the world's population died at that time.
The epidemic, known as The Black Death, first spread to Asia. It later spread westward through two species of merchant ships, the black rat and the rat fly. At one point the whole of Europe was affected by this epidemic. Most women and men were infected with the bubonic plague. About 30-60% of Europe's population dies from the disease. Just because of this epidemic, the war between England and France stopped at that time.
The plague arrived in Europe in October 1348, when 12 ships from the Black Sea anchored in the Sicilian port of Messina, Italy. After the ships arrived, the crowd at the port discovered that most of the sailors on board were dead. And the condition of the survivors is deplorable. The whole body is full of black pus. Many boils are rotting and pus is coming out.
Observing everything, the Sicilian port authorities quickly ordered all ships to leave the port immediately. But by then it was too late. Black death has also spread to European soil, killing over two million people on the continent over the next five years. In the fourteenth century, the world's population dropped from 450 million to 350-375 million due to this epidemic.
Black was a symptom of death - at first men and women with the disease felt the presence of something like a tumor on the wrist or armpit. Gradually it got bigger. At one point it held the shape of an apple or an egg and continued to spread. This black boil was very painful. The infected person could see it all over his body. At one stage they would rot and pus would come out and die in just three to seven days.
5.The Great Plague of London (175):
It was also a bubonic plague. It killed 20 per cent of London's population. Dogs and cats were initially thought to be the source of the disease. The dogs and cats of the city were killed indiscriminately in fear of the disease.
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It was also a bubonic plague. It killed 20 per cent of London's population. Dogs and cats were initially thought to be the source of the disease. The dogs and cats of the city were killed indiscriminately in fear of the disease.
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6.The first cholera epidemic (1818):
The first cholera epidemic began in Russia. About 1 million people died there. The disease later spread to British troops through contaminated water. It later spread to India, killing more than one million people. Cholera also spread like wildfire in the British colonies. Cholera has also spread to Spain, Africa, Indonesia, China, Japan, Italy, Germany and the Americas. About one and a half lakh people died in these areas. As a result, a total of 22-23 lakh people died. Yet thousands of people die of the disease every year. Cholera has killed 40 million people in China, Russia and India so far.
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The first cholera epidemic began in Russia. About 1 million people died there. The disease later spread to British troops through contaminated water. It later spread to India, killing more than one million people. Cholera also spread like wildfire in the British colonies. Cholera has also spread to Spain, Africa, Indonesia, China, Japan, Italy, Germany and the Americas. About one and a half lakh people died in these areas. As a result, a total of 22-23 lakh people died. Yet thousands of people die of the disease every year. Cholera has killed 40 million people in China, Russia and India so far.
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7.Third Plague Epidemic (1855):
It originated in China. Later it spread to India and Hong Kong. About one and a half crore people were affected by this epidemic. The epidemic was the deadliest in India. Historians say that the British rulers in India took repressive measures to suppress the revolt.
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It originated in China. Later it spread to India and Hong Kong. About one and a half crore people were affected by this epidemic. The epidemic was the deadliest in India. Historians say that the British rulers in India took repressive measures to suppress the revolt.
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8.Russian flu (189):
It was the first pandemic caused by the flu. Its onset in Siberia and Kazakhstan. The flu then spread to Europe, North America and Africa. By the end of 1890, the disease had killed about 360,000 people.
It was the first pandemic caused by the flu. Its onset in Siberia and Kazakhstan. The flu then spread to Europe, North America and Africa. By the end of 1890, the disease had killed about 360,000 people.
9. Spanish flu (1918):
One of the worst epidemics in the history of the world in the twentieth century was the Spanish flu. In 1918-19, there were 500 million people infected with the virus worldwide. 5 to 10 crore people died. Among them, more than one and a half crore people died in India. The sum of the people killed in the two world wars was less than that.
The disease was first reported at a military fort in Kansas, USA. On the morning of March 11, 1918, a soldier fell ill in the kitchen. But as evening fell, hundreds of soldiers and officers in the camp fell ill.
The initial Kansas infection was cut short. But after six months, the virus took a terrible turn and began to bite to death. As one can see, it took its worst shape between September and December 1917. In October alone, 1 lakh 95 thousand Americans died. A total of 6 lakh 75 thousand people lost their lives in America. But during the First World War, 1 lakh 17 thousand soldiers were killed all over America. The epidemic was the biggest blow to Americans in history.
But no matter how large their numbers may seem, the Spanish flu carried out the worst attack in India. According to historians, a ship anchored in the port of Bombay (now Mumbai) at midnight in 1917. Soldiers returning from World War I disembarked from that ship. Then it was not too late for the disease to spread. The wind blows through densely populated areas and kills thousands of people every day. As the years go by, the number goes beyond crores. At that time Mahatma Gandhi was also infected with this flu. During his illness he used to eat liquid food and spend his days alone at home. Thus he gradually recovered through quarantine and isolation.
The Spanish flu was so severe that some infected people died quickly before receiving treatment. It also happened that someone woke up and saw that he had a fever. He died on the way to the office or to the doctor after breakfast.
The symptoms of the disease were as follows - first fever, then shortness of breath. In the absence of oxygen, the face turns blue, blood clots in the lungs, and blood comes out through the nose and mouth. No one, from children to the elderly, escaped.
In many areas, local doctors have been wiped out by the flu. Because they were the first to contact the flu patients. As a result, they also inevitably fell prey to this epidemic. It was also found that no doctor could be found in any city where the Spanish flu was so severe.
China was second only to India in terms of casualties. At that time 4-90 million people died in China. 10-24 million people died in Iran, 1.5 million in Indonesia, 4 million in Japan, 3 million in Brazil, 2.5 million in Britain and 4 million in France. These are big calculations. In addition, millions of people were affected in the Asia-Africa Pacific. Several African tribes became extinct. In some cities, the population has shrunk by as much as 90 percent. The virus also spread to all continents of the world. However, no record of the virus has been found on the isolated island of Marazo in Brazil.
10. Asian Flu (1958):
The disease spread from Hong Kong to China. It later spread to the United Kingdom within six months. It killed about 14 thousand people. In early 1958, the Asian flu outbreak spread for the second time. At that time, the Asian flu killed about 1.1 million people worldwide. 1 lakh 17 thousand people died in the United States alone. Later it was possible to prevent that epidemic with the vaccine.
The above description shows that there have been many epidemics in the world over the ages and billions of people have died in these epidemics. The future will tell whether the ongoing corona virus will become more widespread than previous epidemics. However, according to the World Health Organization, most countries are still in the early stages of the epidemic.
References:
history.com, www.wikipedia.com
Disease: The Story of Disease and Mankind's Continuing Struggle Against It, Mary Dobson, 2007.
Encyclopedia of pestilence, pandemics, and plagues, Joseph P. Byrne, 2008.
The evolution of pandemic influenza: Evidence from India, 1918-19, Siddharth Chandra and Eva Kassens-Noor, 2014.
