What is Historic Epidemic and Pandemic Diseases? | Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts

What is Historic Epidemic and Pandemic Diseases?

Throughout history, there have been times when disease spread rapidly in human communities. Sometimes these diseases have killed millions of people. The high frequency of this disease is called epidemic. When an epidemic spreads in a large part of the world, it is called a pandemic.

History of Epidemics and Pandemics:

These are some of the most famous epidemics and pandemics in history. Each epidemic or pandemic changed the way of life of the times and had a great impact on the course of history.

Plague of Athens History (430 BC)

The Athens Plague began in 430 BC during the Peloponnesian War between the two great Greek cities of Athens and Sparta. The plague lasted for three years and killed about 25% of the city’s inhabitants, including Pericles, the great ruler of Athens. In the end, the plague ravaged Athens, causing them to lose the battle to Sparta.

Researchers don’t know exactly what disease caused the plague in Athens, but it was probably typhoid.

Plague of Justinian History (541 to 542 AD)

The Justinian Plague was the first major outbreak of bubonic plague. This happened mainly in Eastern Europe, which was ruled by the Byzantine Empire and Emperor Justinian. An estimated 5,000 people die every day in the capital Constantinople. Even Emperor Justinian got sick. However, he was one of the few survivors.

The plague continued to return to Eastern Europe for the next two hundred years, killing tens of millions of people. She had a lasting impact on Europe and Asia by stopping the expansion of the Byzantine Empire.

Black Death History (1347 to 1350)

The Black Death is perhaps the worst pandemic in history. It has killed between 75 and 200 million people in Europe. At least a third of people in Europe have died from the disease.

We now know that the Black Death was the plague. It is carried by fleas that live on rats. However, the people of that time did not know this. In the end, a lot of people died so the pandemic ended. However, he returned to Europe several times until the 18th century.

Spanish Flu History (1918 to 1920)

The Spanish flu is a particularly dangerous form of influenza virus that has spread around the world since 1918. It has killed between 50 and 100 million people and sickened more than 500 million.

This version of the flu was named “Spanish flu” because people thought Spain was hit harder by the epidemic than most other countries. This is because Spain did not participate in World War I. The Spanish press is allowed to cover the disease, while the press from other countries such as France, Germany, Great Britain and the United States is subject to wartime censorship and is not allowed to report on the severity of the disease. situation. It eventually became known as the Spanish flu.

Worst Pandemic Diseases History:

These are some of the worst pandemics in history. Many of these diseases have caused outbreaks and pandemics.

Bubonic plague – Plague is a disease that infects the lymph nodes. When the lymph nodes grow and swell, they are called “bubbles”. Without treatment, about 50% of people with the disease die. Today the disease is not dangerous because it can be treated with antibiotics.

Smallpox – Smallpox is a terrible pandemic that has devastated much of the world throughout history. Europeans brought smallpox to the Americas in the 1400s, killing up to 90% of the native population. Smallpox causes a severe blistering rash that often leaves scars in survivors. Today, smallpox has been eradicated.

Cholera – Cholera is an infection of the small intestine caused by bacteria. It makes people very upset. There were seven cholera pandemics in the 1800s and 1900s. The disease still kills more than 100,000 people a year. Other major pandemic diseases include influenza, typhus, measles, tuberculosis, yellow fever, malaria and HIV.