Pandemics History
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Transcript Pandemics History
PANDEMICS THROUGHOUT HISTORY
A pandemic is defined as an unusually high outbreak
of a new infectious disease that is spreading through
the human population across a large region
“pan” – all, “demos” – people
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a
pandemic can start when three conditions have been
met:
emergence of a disease new to a population;
agents infect humans, causing serious illness; and
agents spread easily and sustainably among humans.
Throughout human history there have been
numerous pandemics, including the bubonic plague,
smallpox, cholera, the Spanish influenza, and more
recently HIV
In 2009, we were faced with another pandemic - with
the novel strain of influenza A, H1N1 – otherwise
known as swine flu
THE BUBONIC PLAGUE (1347-1352)
Also known as the “Black Death”
Caused by a bacteria (Yersinia pestis) carried by rats
and spread by fleas
Infectious agent: Yersinia pestis
Reservoir: rats
Vector: fleas
Kills within 3-7 days if untreated
Killed tens of millions across Europe (between ¼ and
½ of the total population)
CHOLERA PANDEMIC (1817-1823)
A water-borne bacteria, Vibrio cholerae
causes severe diarrhea leading to
dehydration and death
The first pandemic was characterized by the
unprecedented spread of the bacteria
throughout Asia, starting at the Lower
Ganges River in India
Total estimated deaths: 30 000
SMALLPOX (18TH CENTURY ONWARDS…)
In total, smallpox killed more than 300-500 million
people around the world in the 20th century
A very contagious disease caused by viruses, Variola
major (killed 30 to 30 percent of its victims) and
Variola minor (killed about 1 percent)
Smallpox localizes in the small blood vessels in the
skin, mouth and throat – causes a rash and then, fluidfilled blisters
Can leaves scars, blindness, limb deformities in
survivors
SMALLPOX….CONTINUED
Smallpox has been around since 10,000 BC
Killed an estimated 400,000 Europeans in the 18th
century
Smallpox devastated Aboriginal populations in North
and South America (90 to 95 percent died)
As recently as 1967, around 15 million people
contracted the disease and 2 million of those died
The disease is the only human infectious disease that
has been eradicated (1979 – due to vaccination
campaigns)
SPANISH INFLUENZA (1918-1920)
A very virulent influenza A subtype H1N1 strain
Approximately 1/3 of the world’s population became
infected, and anywhere from 50 to 100 million people died
worldwide (10-20% of those infected)
WW
mill.
I killed 15 mill., WWII 12 mill., Spanish flu 50
HIV (human immunodeficiency
virus) is a retrovirus (RNA virus that produces DNA ,which is
incorporated into the host DNA)
o
HIV can cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome)
It is thought to have originated in sub-Saharan Africa
HIV is passed through sexual relations, blood or blood
products, and mother-to-child transmission
HIV AND AIDS
2.6 million new people were infected with HIV in
2009
1.8 million people died in 2009
The number of new infections and AIDS-related
deaths are declining steadily due to antiretroviral
therapy
PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV (2008)
In 1990, 8 million people were living with HIV, in 2009 it
was 33 million (the population of Canada)
THE “SWINE FLU”: H1N1 (2009)
Caused by a strain of influenza A, H1N1
Originated as a mixture of swine, avian, and human
influenzas
The genetic change that allows a virus to “jump
species” is called antigenic shift
Influenza is mainly a disease of water fowl
H1-16\N1-9
SEASONAL INFLUENZA COMPARED TO PANDEMIC —
PROPORTIONS OF TYPES OF CASES
Deaths
Requiring
hospitalisation
Clinical
symptoms
Deaths Requiring
hospitalisation
Clinical
symptoms
Asymptomatic
Seasonal influenza
Asymptomatic
Pandemic
22
EVERYONE
IS WORRYING
ABOUT
INFLUENZA
(KIDS,
PARENTS,
TEACHERS...)