The Worst Disease Outbreaks
Black plague and Spanish flu were both highly pathogenic influenzas that caused high mortality rates. They existed as killer plaques for a longer interval cycle. By the end of the 20th century, livestock and poultry-related pandemic flu caused many deaths in humans. About 15 years later in 2002-3, SARS hit hard in China, and within a short period of six years, H1N1 has now swept over the globe tremendously, causing deaths in Mexico, America, Europe and Asia. When next confronted with these highly contagious plagues, deadly diseases or flu-like symptoms, who will become an innocent victim?
Cholera
According to WHO, there have been seven pandemic outbreaks of cholera and in 1999 alone; over 9,000 deaths were recorded on the course of cholera. In human history, the British Army has a record of 100,000 cholera deaths among its troops.
Cholera (Asiatic or epidemic cholera) is transmitted via drinking water or eating foods contaminated by choleravibrios from other cholera patients. It’s an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae which produces cholera toxin (an enterotoxin which interferes with the mucosal epithelium lining of the small intestine) and may cause severe, exhaustive diarrhea.
Therefore, it’s possible to die within the onset of symptoms or within hours of contracting cholera, as a healthy person’s blood pressure may drop to hypotensive level. Without a prompt oral rehydration therapy being given, a person may experience an extremely low blood pressure, the first stool to shock in 4 to 12 hours, heart failure, followed by death from 18 hours to several days. It seems that proper sanitation, clean water and hygiene are important elements to keep not get cholera infection.
Enteroviruses
Enteroviruses are diverse group of small RNA viruses that can cause non-specific viral infection to mild respiratory diseases (such as common cold), aseptic meningitis, severe neonatal sepsis-like disease, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, foot, mouth and hand disease, acute flaccid paralysis, and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), particularly in infants.
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raman13 | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
Good Stuff
Thanks
Now your turn
Best Regards
lindalulu | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
Wow..Chan what an informative article! Too bad so many terrible diseases have to exist. The outbreak of any thing is horrible and the victims of such things should make the world step up and take more notice. Hopefully with articles this this one they will….
CA Johnson | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
What an interesting article Chan! I feel so sorry for all of those poor people who have to suffer with those terrible diseases.
Hugo La Rosa | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
Chan: Thank you for the information. I have heard about Cholera, but really didn’t know much about the ravaging conditions of the disease. The pictures are very illustrative. Now I know what Gabriel Garcia Marquez is talking about in his book “Love in the Time of Cholera”. Best Regards, Hugo.
Uma Shankari | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
All the troubles you take for writing an article are worth it, Chan. That’s why you produce consistently informative and riveting articles. Kudos.
thestickman | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
Excellent, well-documented article Chan. Thanks!
bjr | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
great article.people need to see this kind of information.
Jenny Heart | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
I know someone who has Mrsa. It’s a never ending battle. Keeping the immune system built up is of vital importance. great informative article.
PR Mace | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
Chan, you write the most well done, well researched articles. Do you have a medical background? Another outstanding piece. Well, well done.
Christine Ramsay | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
A very impressive, informative and beautifully presented article, Chan. Brilliant work.
Christine
Joe Dorish | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
Well presented article Chan, liked it a lot!
Juancav | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
Detailed, pests and diseases that have affected the world.
Ruby Hawk | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
So many terrible diseases, We are lucky that most of us escape them.
valli | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
Scary and terrible diseases. Thanks for the well researched info, Chan.
Judy Sheldon | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
Chan, your articles are always so well researched. Thanks so much for providing us with necessary information to safeguard our health and that of our loved ones.
Goodselfme | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
Very educational, well composed along with the pics to make this a completely thought out informative piece.TX
Chambo | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
Chan,
Very informative mate. Thank you.
RJ
Pacific Mists | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
The disease information shown here is staggering. Wow, so many people are suffering so terribly throughout history, and presently.
Good work putting together such extensively researched information, Chan.
nobert soloria bermosa | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
a very well research post,helpful and informative as well
BC Doan | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
Very informative article Chan! The pictures show how terrible and serious the diseases are..
chitragopi | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
Highly informative. Reads like a reasearch article by an experienced specialist doctor. Thank u for the information and precautions.
Mr Ghaz | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
Excellent!..A very informative and educational article. well done!..very well written with superb pics. Thanx for sharing this great work.
satellite | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
A great article. You have done a lot of research. The article is very informative.
Lauren Axelrod | Aug 16, 2009 | Reply
Well done Chan. At my college, children are completely banned from the computer labs because they spread so many germs. Especially now, with several cases of swine flu nearby.
DA Cournean | Aug 16, 2009 | Reply
Great article..well presented.
deep blue | Aug 16, 2009 | Reply
Another well researched article my friend. Well done and best regards.
Will
giftarist | Aug 16, 2009 | Reply
Very informative, interesting and well-written article.
Two-thumbs up for you,
Research is worth it
AngelaDavid | Aug 17, 2009 | Reply
Well written article here. Informative.
Anne McNew | Aug 17, 2009 | Reply
you have presented those very important views about diseases. thanks for sharing this.
CutestPrincess | Aug 18, 2009 | Reply
that must be a good info for us to be aware of something very important. thanks for sharing
Alicia Wind | Aug 18, 2009 | Reply
Holy Moly, those were scary and terrible diseases. Yet, good enough that you put up those kind of pictures, for people to know and be aware of how people should be alarmed and can do something about it before it affects on them.
A very good job. 10/10 rate.
Kate Smedley | Aug 19, 2009 | Reply
Well researched and informative article, these diseases are so frightening. Excellent work Chan.
ESTRELLA 2008 | Aug 20, 2009 | Reply
EXCELENTE ARTICULO AMIGO COMO TODO LO QUE TU ESCRIBES YA EXTRAÑABA LEER TUS ARTICULOS.
32 BarClay | Aug 28, 2009 | Reply
Chan, you’re the “King of EWWW!” Thank you for reporting on these epidemics. I am so glad you added information about how to take care of cuts, scrapes and rashes. As smart as people are, or claim to be, they tend to be selfish and not think about covering their mouths when they cough/sneeze, washing their hands often or covering abnormal skin areas while they are sick. Folks think , “I’m sick so I don’t really care if someone gets sick from me”. Additionally, I would like to add that the same folks that come into the grocery store and wipe the cart handle with the provided sanitizer wipes because they think “Eww germs!” are the same people who dip their dirty, unwashed hands in the bulk bins and sample trays without using a tissue…(staph lives on skin) the same people who go to work when they are contagious to be “a team player”. Employers WANT you to stay home if you’re sick. Why would they want an office-full of sickly people? Being a team player is staying home when you are sick. Thanks for allowing my long comment. Great article Chan!
Joshua Miguel | Aug 31, 2009 | Reply
wow! this is so informative and so much work was put into this post. nice one and keep it up.
Mr Ghaz | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
A wonderful tips and highly informative article..well researched too..I loved it.Thanks for sharing this fab. piece.
latasha green | May 17, 2010 | Reply
that is like so nasty and the people is so skinny…..