The deadliest epidemic of the haemorrhagic fever Ebola broke out in West Africa in December 2013 and lasted more than two years (AFP Photo/CELLOU BINANI) |
Paris (AFP) - Before the emergence of the new coronavirus, which has sparked worldwide panic, other epidemics had struck earlier in the 21st century, but were less deadly than the previous century's pandemics.
An
overview.
21st
century epidemics
2013-2016: Ebola
The
deadliest epidemic of the haemorrhagic fever Ebola broke out in West Africa in
December 2013 and lasted more than two years, killing more than 11,300, mainly
in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
First
identified in 1976, Ebola is less contagious than other viral diseases, but is
particularly lethal, killing around 40 percent.
The virus
re-emerged in August 2018 in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where it
has so far killed more than 2,200.
The World
Health Organization (WHO) says 18,500 died of so-called "Swine flu",
or H1N1, which was first uncovered in Mexico and the United States in March
2009 (AFP Photo/LUIS ACOSTA)
|
2009-2010: Swine flu
The World
Health Organization (WHO) says 18,500 died of so-called "Swine flu",
or H1N1, which was first uncovered in Mexico and the United States in March
2009.
The Lancet
medical review, however, puts the toll at between 151,700 and 575,400.
The pandemic
alert was launched on June 11, 2009 and lifted on August 10, 2010 but the virus
turned out to be not as deadly as first feared.
Vaccines
were rushed out, but in hindsight, the West, particularly Europe, and the WHO
were criticised for overreacting at a time annual influenza epidemics every
year kill between 250,000 and 500,000, according to the Geneva-based UN health
agency.
Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome first emerged in Guangdong in southern
China in
November 2002 before sparking a health crisis in mid-2003, in particular
traumatising Asia (AFP Photo/SAMANTHA SIN)
|
2002-2003: SARS
Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome first emerged in Guangdong in southern China in
November 2002 before sparking a health crisis in mid-2003, in particular
traumatising Asia.
It killed
774, four fifths of whom were in China and Hong Kong. It was transmitted to man
from horseshoe bats, eventually spreading to around 30 countries. It had a
mortality rate of 9.5 percent.
2003-2004: Bird flu
The deadly
H5N1 strain of bird flu killed more than 400 people, mainly in Southeast Asia,
after appearing in 2003. It first ravaged poultry farms in Hong Kong, before
being transmitted to humans. The WHO declared a global health emergency, but
the toll remained limited.
20th
century's big pandemics
AIDS, by
far the most deadly epidemic of modern times: according to UNAIDS
some 32
million people around the world have died of the disease (AFP Photo/
Dibyangshu
SARKAR)
|
1981-to
date: AIDS
By far the
most deadly epidemic of modern times: according to UNAIDS some 32 million
people around the world have died of the disease which affects the immune
system and leaves people vulnerable to opportunistic infections.
Today
around 24.5 million people have access to retroviral drugs which when taken
regularly efficiently stop the illness in its tracks and heavily reduce the
risk of contamination.
1968-1970: The Hong Kong flu
Around one
million people died of this disease, according to the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).
Transmitted
around the world between mid-1968 and early 1970, it in particular killed many
children. It first started in Hong Kong, spread through Asia and reached the
United States in late 1968. After lying low for several months it then hit
Europe in late 1969.
For
epidemic experts, this flu went down in history as the first of the modern era,
due to the advent of high-speed air travel.
1957-1958: Asian flu
Around 1.1
million people died of Asian flu, according to the CDC.
The
pandemic hit in two aggressive waves. The virus first appeared in southern
China in February 1957. Several months went by before it reached America and
Europe.
The
disease, which results in serious lung complications, in particular affected
the elderly.
Spanish flu
hit the world's population in the wake of WWI, killing up to 50 million,
according to the CDC, and is considered the most deadly in history over such
a
short period (AFP Photo)
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1918-1919: Spanish flu
Spanish flu
hit a large part of the world's population in the wake of World War I, killing
up to 50 million people, according to the CDC.
Striking
between September 1918 and April 1919, it is considered the most deadly in
history over such a short period.
Five times
more people died of it than did in World War I. The first victims were recorded
in the United States, before it spread to Europe and then around the world.
Its
mortality rate was estimated at more than 2.5 percent, according to the CDC.
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