Viruses have been man’s enemy for a very long time. Most of the time, we do not know where they come from, but when they do appear, they lead to illnesses and diseases that sometimes are incurable.
Fortunately, we have more scientists now than we did before, and we also have a growing number of health experts that are working side-by-side scientists to combat viruses by creating treatments and vaccinations.
Below are 10 of the most dangerous viruses in the world that have infected many countries and led to the end of countless lives.
1. Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)
The Marburg virus was first discovered in 1967 after it caused an outbreak in Laboratories located in Frankfurt, and Marburg, Germany, as well as Yugoslavia and in Belgrade. A total of 31 people reportedly caught the disease, and 7 out of the 31 patients eventually died.
According to information from the center of disease control and prevention, the workers at the Laboratory first acquired the Marburg virus which led to hemorrhagic fever while carrying out a research where they were exposed to the African green monkey.
There was also an outbreak of the Marburg virus in Angola in 2005 and the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1998 to 2000.
2. Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
Zaure ebolavirus, also known as Ebola, is one of the rare but fatal diseases that shook the planet in recent times. Ebola causes fever, body pains, and diarrhea. In 1976, there was a record of two simultaneous outbreaks in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo, and in Nzada, Sudan.
According to WHO, the Ebola virus has an average fatality rate of around 50%; however, past fatalities have ranged between 25% to 90%.
3. Rabies
Rabies is a virus that you have heard it before, either as a pet owner or from someone who knows about it. The disease is yet another deadly virus that is transmitted to humans through the saliva of animals.
Bats, dogs, coyotes, foxes, and raccoons are some of the animals that are known to carry rabies. For this reason, it is recommended that individuals immediately get treatment if they get bitten by any of these animals.
4. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV is arguably one of the most famous viruses in the world. As the name implies, HIV is a virus that targets a person’s immune system and ups the dangers of other infections and diseases.
The human immune virus, which can either be acquired by unprotected sex with an infected person or by sharing drug needles and other sharp objects with an infected person, has remained one of the biggest killers.
HIV has been around for a long time now but still has no cure, although, with medical advancements, people have been able to control it and even live longer.
5. Smallpox
To this day, no one has found the origins of smallpox. The contagious disease was quick to spread across the world, triggering symptoms like fever, skin rash, and sometimes blindness to people who are infected. While many patients recovered, statistics have it that 3 out of 10 people who had smallpox died of the disease.
On May 8, 1980, there was a reason to smile as the World Health Assembly declared that the smallpox had been eradicated successfully, and the world is finally free of smallpox.
6. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
The world was met with surprise in 1993 after a man from Navajo in the United States was reported dead with his fiancee just a few days after they complained about suffering from shortness of breath.
Healthy individuals are at risk for HPS infection if they get exposed to the virus. Hantavirus is a virus that is transmitted through exposure to droppings of infected rodents.
7. Spanish Flu
First reported in 1918, the world welcomed the deadliest Spanish flu outbreak. The viral disease affected more than 500 million people and claimed the lives of around 20 to 50 million people.
Citizens were advised to put on masks, theaters, schools, and businesses were shuttered, and bodies were piled up in makeshift morgues while the virus existed. Eventually, the virus ended its deadly global spread.
8. Dengue
Transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes, the first time dengue fever was detected was in Thailand and the Philippines in the 1950s.
Each year, an estimated 50 to 100 million people fall sick with dengue fever and may lead to death if the patient does not seek immediate medical attention.
9. Rotavirus
Though not one of the most famous viruses, Babies and young children are the most vulnerable people to rotavirus; however, there are also a few instances when adults and older children may get ill. Symptoms of this virus include dehydration, having black stools, high fever, and vomiting.
In 2008 alone, 453,000 children below 5 years of age died across the globe as a result of the virus. Medical experts have encouraged parents to make sure that their children get vaccinated to prevent them from catching the disease.
10. Coronavirus
Believe to have originated from the exotic wildlife market of Wuhan, China. The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has quickly spread not only in the whole country of China but also recorded in 24 other countries around the world, causing the WHO to declare the Wuhan coronavirus as a global health emergency.
As of the time of writing, the viral coronavirus disease has now infected 76, 000 and has now claimed 2, 000 lives, with the first recorded death outside of China was in the Philippines. The affected patient was a 44-year-old male tourist who traveled from Wuhan.
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