It seems that almost every historical period has been marked by some kind of virus which was potentially life threatening for the human life. Luckily, thanks to the scientists, the cure would, in most cases, be found before the virus could destroy and take more lives.
When a new virus occurs, it usually happens that it is a complete new and undiscovered notion in the science. So, it can take a lot of time for experts to find the vaccine or appropriate drug. Unfortunately, this is the reason why the mortality rate of some viruses was huge.
If you are interested in learning which the 5 deadliest viruses on Earth are, take a look below.
1. Ebola virus
This virus was first discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the republic of Sudan. This virus is very dangerous because it can be spread very easily. In other words, it spreads through bodily fluids, such as blood, saliva or even tears. When it comes to its fatality rate, it was up to 71% in the Sudan area. The symptoms range from headache to external bleeding. The reason why this virus is so dangerous lays in the fact that there is still no consensus on the exact treatment of vaccine. Nevertheless, it is continuously been researched and the studies which are conducted on this topic will hopefully show some clear conclusions.
2. HIV
This virus is considered to be one of the deadliest due to the fact that has caused 32 million deaths since it was first detected among humans. It first appeared in the 1980s and it took a lot of time for scientists to discover what this virus really is. In fact, in the modern world, the antiviral drugs aimed for the people who are HIV positive have made it possible to live for years with this diagnosis. Nevertheless, it still continues to scare a lot of the patients, especially those who live in countries with low economy rate because drugs are not as available there.
3. Rabies
Another very dangerous virus which can affect humans is called rabies. This virus can be found both within animals and humans. A person can be infected though an animal bite. In 1920s a vaccine was developed and many patients were treated successfully. Even though, with the proper medical treatment, this virus can be cured, it still continues to be a threat, especially in some African countries where the treatment is not as available as it is in the Western world.
4. Hantavirus
Outbreak of this virus occurred in 1993 in Arizona and New Mexico. Due to the fact that it is relatively new, it is still somewhat unexplored. What is known, however, are the symptoms and how it is spread. It is an influenza-like disease and it is can cause respiratory failure. What is important is the fact that the virus cannot be transmitted from human to human. The symptoms include muscle aches, fever, shortness of breath, coughing, etc.
5. Marburg virus
The symptoms of this virus include vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, sore throat, etc. It was discovered in 1967, when a group of scientists in Marburg, Germany reached the conclusion that it in fact originated from human exposure to the green monkeys endemic in Uganda. In the modern world, this virus continues to be deadly, since there is still no effective cure or vaccine against it.
