Adapted from the article "Unmasking a
Crisis", Time magazine, April 21, 2003.
What are some of the major viruses that
have plagued mankind in the 20th and now the 21st century? sic
takes a look at some of the culprits.
Spanish Flu
Those that have either died of been infected by these viruses
run into the millions. Since the first major flu illness, the
Spanish Flu in 1918, the world has not been spared from the reoccurrances
of these killer viruses. The Spanish Flu still stands as the
world's worst killer virus, having taken the lives of an estimated
20 to 40 million people worldwide.
Country Source of Virus: USA
Type of Virus: Mutation of a swine flu virus
Spreading Mechanism: Through soldiers in World War 1
Asian Flu
In the years of 1957 to 1958, the Asian Flu claimed the lives
of about 1 million people worldwide.
Country Source of Virus: Southern China
Type of Virus: Initially from ducks, migrated to pigs, mutated
then migrated to humans
Spreading Mechanism: Presumably from close contact with infected
persons
Ebola Virus
The Ebola Virus reared its ugly head in 1976. A highly contagious
virus, it was responsible for taking anywhere from 900 to 1000
lives. Sufferers endured a painful bleeding death.
Country Source of Virus: Africa - Ebola River in Congo, to be
exact
Type of Virus: Monkeys
Spreading Mechanism: Presumably from close contact with infected
persons
Swine Flu
Initially thought of as the return of the earlier Spanish Flu,
this virus caused panic among many in the US but it did not spread.
The year was 1976.
Country Source of Virus: USA
Type of Virus: Mutation of flu virus common to pigs
Spreading Mechanism: Did not spread. Reports of over 40 million
Americans vaccinated against this virus.
HIV
A true plague of our time, scientists still have not found a
cure for this flu virus mutation 20 odd years down the road,
since the first case was reported in 1981. More than 20 million
deaths and double the numbers of those infected.
Country Source of Virus: Africa - theory only
Type of Virus: Unknown
Spreading Mechanism: Through African monkeys
Avian Flu
Originating from Hong Kong somewhere between 1997 to 1999, this
strain of bird flu killed 6 people and the culling of more than
1 million chickens in the territory. Fortunately, the virus was
contained.
Country Source of Virus: Hong Kong
Type of Virus: Flu virus present in birds
Spreading Mechanism: From chickens to man
Nipah Virus
In the years of 1998/9, this virus claimed the lives of more
than 100 people, many of them pig framers or their workers. Human
to human transmission has not been reported for this virus.
Country Source of Virus: Malaysia, then to Singapore
Type of Virus: Virus existed in bats, transmitted to pigs, then
to humans
Spreading Mechanism: No human to human transmission reported
SARS
Orginating from the Southern China province of Guangdong in November
2002, this virus has spread quickly to 26 countries as of 24th
April 2003. Accelerated through air travel, when infected persons
took the virus back to their country, it has claimed 274 lives
so far. Scientists have still not come up with a cure for this
virus as the daily numbers of infected grows. Added to this fact,
the incubation period for this virus is as long as 10 days. For
more on the origins and updates of the virus since November 2002,
please refer to this page.
Country Source of Virus: Guangdong, Southern China to Hong Kong,
then the World
Type of Virus: Mutated form of the Coronavirus
Spreading Mechanism: Human to human transmission via close contact
with infected personnel |
