Top 8 Biggest Infectious Disease Outbreaks of the Last Decade

Top 8 Biggest Infectious Disease Outbreaks of the Last Decade

One would think that in 2020 we would have everything resolved.  You would expect cures for diseases, vaccines for viruses, and no deadly outbreak of horrible diseases.  But we do not live in an ideal world.  In fact, there is a new pandemic called nCoV-2019 in China and the past decade was filled with horrible disease outbreaks that infected hundreds of thousands of people and also killed many of them.  

The 8 Biggest Infectious Disease Outbreaks of the Last Decade

Let's take a look at the 8 biggest infectious disease outbreaks of the past decade and learn a little about how to identify them and how to protect ourselves from them.

1. Avian influenza - Avian influenza (H7N9)

We remember the great outbreak of bird flu.  It originated in China and there have been several outbreaks in other countries in the past decade.  The virus can affect birds, animals, and humans, but in most cases, it is limited to birds.  However, if humans come into contact with infected birds or handle raw poultry meat without reasonable precautions, they can become infected.  

The first symptoms are very similar to those of the flu: cough, fever, runny nose, muscle aches.  But this virus progresses faster than the flu, and if left untreated it can cause pneumonia, sepsis, organ failure and can be fatal.  The best way to prevent it is to stay away from infected birds and to properly (fully) cook poultry and eggs.  If the symptoms are detected early, the disease is completely treatable.

2. Ebola

There was a massive Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 that killed many people.  The disease is caused by the Ebola virus, the origin of which has not been determined exactly, but scientists agree that it most likely originates from bats.  It is only spread by coming into contact with the blood or body fluids of a contaminated person.  It is not transmitted by air.  

The first symptoms are similar to those of the common flu and include fatigue, fever, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, but as the disease progresses the symptoms worsen.  Unexplained extreme nausea, diarrhea, and bleeding follow.

3. Plague

This can be shocking, but the plague still exists.  Yes, that horrible "Black Death" that devastated half of Europe in the fourteenth century still exists and there are usually around 1,000 to 2,000 cases each year around the world.  Today there is a medicine that cures it, of course, but it is still a horrible disease that is fatal if left untreated.  

There was an outbreak of it in Madagascar in 2017 and in fact Madagascar has a season every year.  The pest is caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis which is transmitted from rodents to humans through rodent fleas.  There are three types of plague: bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic, and all three are extremely dangerous and deadly if left untreated.

4. Cholera

Cholera is caused by ingesting food or water with the Vibrio cholerae bacteria.  Generally found in places with poor sewage systems or contaminated water.  Symptoms are severe vomiting and diarrhea causing dehydration. If left untreated, infectious disease can be fatal due to dehydration.  

The largest cholera outbreak of the past decade occurred in Yemen in 2017. A shocking figure: 862,858 people were infected and 2,177 died.  The disease is fully curable today if you provide the necessary medical treatment.  But cholera is endemic, so when traveling to places where there are regular outbreaks, one should always drink only safe bottled water.

5. The Nipah Virus (NiV)

The Nipah virus outbreak occurred in India in 2018. There is no specific drug or vaccine for this virus, but the World Health Organization has made it a priority to investigate that.  The Nipah virus is zoonotic, which means it passes from infected animals to humans, but it can also be transmitted from human to human and through infected food.  In the two main outbreaks, the disease was transmitted to people through infected pigs and fruit bats.  

The initial symptoms are fever, sore throat, headache, mental confusion, and dizziness.  If left untreated, it can cause seizures and encephalitis that can quickly lead to coma and death.  So far symptomatic treatment has been successful, but research for the medicine that would cure the Nipah virus is ongoing.

6. The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Virus (MERS)

MERS is also a zoonotic virus and is the largest outbreak on record in Saudi Arabia.  The virus appears to have come from contact with infected camels.  In some people infected with the virus it is asymptomatic, in others it presents with fever, shortness of breath and pneumonia.  

In 35% of reported infected cases, the disease was fatal.  There are no specific vaccines to prevent it and no specific medications have yet been certified for MERS.  The best way to prevent disease is to avoid contact with sick animals and people and to practice general hygiene measures.

7. Lassa fever

Lassa fever or Lassa hemorrhagic fever is endemic in West Africa, but in 2018 there was a particularly serious outbreak in Nigeria.  The disease is usually spread through rats.  The cause of Lassa fever is usually a rat bite or contact with its feces or urine.  It is a life-threatening disease and if it affects the liver, kidneys or spleen, it can be fatal and, in severe cases, death usually occurs on the 14th day of its appearance.  However, in 8 out of 10 people, it may have no symptoms and will resolve on its own.

8. New Coronavirus - nCoV-2019

This is the last virus outbreak that started in late December 2019. It is known as the new coronavirus or Wuhan coronavirus.  It was located in Wuhan City, in the Chinese province of Hubei.  It appears to have originated from a live seafood and seafood market in Wuhan, but scientists are still trying to determine which animal it came from.  

Until now we know that it is a coronavirus, which means that it generally causes respiratory diseases.  It is believed to be of zoonotic origin, but that has not yet been confirmed.  It appears to be 96% similar to SARS and bat coronavirus.  China has recently confirmed human-to-human transmission.  Symptoms include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath.

There is no medicine for this coronavirus since it is very new and until now those infected are being treated for their symptoms.  Until now, the World Health Organization advises people to take reasonable precautions and practice hygiene, avoid contact with the sick and do not eat uncooked animal products.