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26 Deadliest Diseases In Human History

6). Bubonic Plague.

Known as a zoonotic disease, circulating mainly among small rodents and their fleas, without treatment the bubonic plague kills about two-thirds of infected humans within 4 days.[1]

7). Cerebrovascular Disease

Basically a fancy way of saying stroke, this happens when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted because a blood vessel is blocked or bursts open.

8). Lower Respiratory Infections

There are two types of lower respiratory infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. Some common symptoms of these infections are runny nose and sneezing, headache, and sore throat.[4] Although in most western countries these diseases are not fatal, in the developed world a lower respiratory infection can easily be lethal.

9). Syphilis

This sexually transmitted disease is believed to infect roughly 12 million people annually, with greater than 90% of cases in the developing world. Symptoms include everything from rashes to heart problems and sometimes it can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages.[10]

10). Influenza A-H1N1 (Swine Flu)

Although it has been declared by the WHO as officially over, swine flu was yet another deadly and contagious strain the influenza virus.

11). Meningitis

Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The inflammation may be caused by infection and less commonly by certain drugs. The most common symptoms are headache and neck stiffness associated with fever, confusion or altered consciousness, vomiting,[2] and an inability to tolerate light or loud noises.

12). Ischemic Heart Disease

Basically a fancy way of saying heart attacks (or at least the factors that predispose individuals to them),[9] by some estimates 1 in 3 people are said to die from heart disease.

13). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Often abbreviated as COPD, this disease is caused by noxious particles or gas, most commonly from tobacco smoking, that trigger an abnormal inflammatory response in the lung. Worldwide,[3] COPD is projected to become the fourth leading cause of death by 2030 due to an increase in smoking rates and demographic changes in many countries.

14). Tetanus.

Tetanus is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. Infection generally occurs through wound contamination and often involves a cut or deep puncture wound. As the infection progresses, muscle spasms develop in the jaw (thus the name “lockjaw”) and elsewhere in the body.[1]

15). Avian Influenza ( Bird Flu )

Although we’ve already covered influenza as a whole, certain strains adapt to a particular host,[9] in this case birds. Most human contractions of the avian flu are a result of either handling dead infected birds or from contact with infected fluids. For this reason there have been large outbreaks in heavily agricultural parts of Asia and Africa.

16). Ebola.

Deriving its name from the Ebola River in Republic of the Congo, where it was first found, its victims typically suffer fevers, muscle weakness, and other symptoms that progress to severe bleeding, both internal and external, that eventually causes them to bleed to death, its one of the deadliest diseases. Unfortunately there is no treatment as of yet. Currently, we are experiencing what some are claiming to be the deadliest and worst outbreak of the disease in history.[7]

17). Whooping Cough

Technically known as Pertussis, this highly infectious disease is known in some countries as the “cough of 100 days”. It is estimated that the disease currently affects 48.5 million people yearly,[1] resulting in nearly 295,000 deaths

18). Perinatal Complications

Each year, about 500,000 women die worldwide from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, including severe bleeding/hemorrhaging, infections, unsafe abortions,[4] obstructed labor and eclampsia, and more than 90 percent of maternal deaths occur in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

19). Diarrhea

A common cause of death in third world countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide, the loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and electrolyte disturbances such as potassium deficiency or other salt imbalances, it’s therefore one of the deadliest diseases.[8]

20). Lung Cancer.

On a world-wide scale lung cancer is the most common cancer related death in men and women, responsible for 1.38 million deaths annually, its one of the deadliest diseases around.

21). Influenza

Commonly known as the flu, influenza is usually transmitted through the air like tuberculosis but sometimes through direct contact with contaminated surfaces.[4] Because the virus can be inactivated by soap, however, frequent hand washing reduces the risk of infection.

22). Tuberculosis

Usually attacking the lungs, this disease is spread by airborne saliva. The classic symptoms of active tuberculosis infection are a chronic cough with blood-tinged sputum,[6] fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Today some estimates put nearly one-third of world down as having some form of tuberculosis.

23). Yellow fever.

Transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes, this disease is found in Africa and South America. It typically involves fever, chills, anorexia, nausea, muscle pain (with prominent backache) and headache, but in most cases subsides after several days. Due to warfare and social disruption across Africa, there has seen a resurgence since the 1980s.[2]

24). Smallpox

After the vaccination campaigns of the 20th century, smallpox has become one of two infectious dise 😈 ses that have been declared as completely eradicated (the other being rinderpest). Throughout history,[1] however, small pox has claimed numerous lives and just in the 20th century, prior to vaccination, the death toll was estimated at nearly 500 million.

25). Cholera

This infection of the small intestine is transmitted primarily by drinking water or eating food containing the feces of an infected person. Worldwide about 5 million people are affected and over 100,000 die from Cholera every year,[9] cholera is one of the most deadly diseases.[4]

26). Coronavirus

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus. The disease causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and avoiding close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell. This is so far the most dangerous epidermic disease in the world.

Source: List25

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