There are a myriad of microorganisms in the world, viruses prevail among them. They can survive in the most severe conditions. Viruses are found in the eternal ice of Antarctica, and in the hot sands of the Sahara, and even in the cold vacuum of space. Although not all of them are dangerous, more than 80% of all human diseases are caused by viruses.
Back in the 40s of the last century, mankind knew about 40 diseases that they provoked. Today, this figure is more than 500, in addition to the fact that every year they open up new types of them. People have learned to fight viruses, but knowledge is not always enough - more than 10 of their types remain the most dangerous for humanity. Viruses are causative agents of dangerous human diseases. Let's look at the main ones.
Hantaviruses
The most dangerous type of virus is hantavirus. Contact with small rodents or their waste products is likely to become infected. They can provoke many diseases, the most dangerous of which are hemorrhagic fever and hantavirus syndrome. The first disease kills every tenth, the probability of death after the second is 36%. The largest outbreak occurred during the Korean War. Then more than 3,000 soldiers from different sides of the confrontation felt its effect on themselves. There is a high probability that hantavirus caused the extinction of the Aztec civilization 600 years ago.
Ebola virus
What other dangerous viruses exist on Earth? The Ebola epidemic created panic in the world community just a year ago. The virus was discovered in 1976, during an epidemic in the Congo. It got its name in honor of the Ebola River, in the basin of which an outbreak occurred. There are many symptoms of Ebola disease, which complicates its diagnosis. The most common of them include: fever, general weakness, vomiting, impaired liver and kidney function, sore throat. In some cases, internal and external bleeding is observed. In 2015, this virus took the lives of more than 12 thousand people.
What is the danger of influenza virus?
Of course, no one will argue that a dangerous virus is a common flu. Annually, more than 10% of the world's population suffers from it, which makes it one of the most common and unforeseen.
The main danger to people is not the virus itself, but the complications that it can cause (kidney disease, pulmonary and brain edema, heart failure). Of the 600 thousand people who died last year from the flu, only 30% of the deaths were caused directly by the virus; the death of the rest was the result of complications.
Mutations are another danger of the flu virus. Due to the constant use of antibiotics, the disease becomes stronger every year. Chicken and swine flu, epidemics of which have flared up over the past 10 years, are another confirmation of this. In the worst case scenario, after a few decades, drugs that can fight the flu will be extremely dangerous for humans.
Rotavirus
The most dangerous type of virus for children is rotavirus. Although the cure for it works quite effectively, every year about half a million babies die from this ailment. This disease causes acute diarrhea, the body quickly dehydrates and death occurs. Most victims live in underdeveloped countries where it is difficult to get a vaccine against this virus.
Deadly Marburg
The Marburg virus was first discovered in the city of the same name in Germany in the late 60s of the last century. He is one of the ten deadly viruses that can be infected from animals.
About 30% of diseases with this virus end fatally. In the early stages of this disease, a person is tormented by fever, nausea, muscle pain. With a more severe course - jaundice, pancreatitis, liver failure. The carriers of the disease are not only humans, but also rodents, as well as some species of monkeys.
Hepatitis in action
What other dangerous viruses are known? There are more than 100 species that affect the human liver. The most dangerous of them are hepatitis B and C. This virus is not in vain called the “gentle killer”, because it can be in the human body for many years without causing tangible symptoms.
Hepatitis most often leads to the death of liver cells, that is, to cirrhosis. It is almost impossible to cure the pathology caused by strains B and C of this virus. By the time hepatitis is detected in the human body, the ailment, as a rule, is already in a chronic form.
The pioneer of this disease was the Russian biologist Botkin. The hepatitis strain he found is now called "A", and the disease itself is treatable.
Smallpox virus
Smallpox is one of the oldest diseases known to mankind. It affects only people, causing them chills, dizziness, headaches and pain in the lower back. Characteristic signs of smallpox are the appearance of a purulent rash on the body. Over the past century alone, smallpox has claimed the lives of about half a billion people. Colossal material resources (about 300 million dollars) were thrown into the fight against this ailment. Nevertheless, virologists have achieved success: the last known case of smallpox was recorded forty years ago.
Deadly Rabies Virus
Rabies virus is the first of this rating, leading to death in 100% of cases. You can get rabies after a bite of a sick animal. The disease is asymptomatic until the time when it is no longer possible to save a person.
Rabies virus causes severe damage to the nervous system. In the last stages of the disease, a person becomes violent, feels a constant sense of fear, suffers from insomnia. A few days before the death occurs blindness and paralysis.
In the entire history of medicine, only 3 people were saved from rabies.
Lassa virus
What other dangerous human viruses are known ? Lassa fever caused by this virus is one of the most dangerous diseases of West Africa. It affects the human nervous system, kidneys, lungs, and can cause myocarditis. During the entire period of the disease, body temperature does not fall below 39-40 degrees. A lot of painful purulent ulcers appear on the body.
The carriers of the Lass virus are small rodents. The disease is transmitted by contact. Each year about 500 thousand people become infected, of which 5-10 thousand die. With severe Lassa fever, mortality can reach 50%.
Acquired Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome
The most dangerous type of virus is HIV. It is considered the most dangerous of those that are known to humans at this time.
Experts have found that the first case of transmission of this virus from primate to human happened in 1926. The first fatal case was recorded in 1959. In the 60s of the last century, the symptoms of AIDS were found in American prostitutes, but they did not attach much importance to this then. HIV was considered simply a complex form of pneumonia.
A separate HIV disease was recognized only in 1981, after the outbreak of an epidemic among homosexuals. After 4 years, scientists have found ways to transmit this disease: blood and seminal fluid. The real world AIDS epidemic began 20 years ago. HIV is rightly called the 20th century plague.
This disease affects primarily the immune system. As a result, AIDS itself does not lead to deaths. But an HIV-infected person who simply does not have immunity can die from a simple cold.
All attempts to invent an HIV vaccine have so far been unsuccessful.
What is dangerous papilloma virus?
About 70% of people are carriers of the papilloma virus, most of them are women. Papilloma is transmitted sexually. Of more than 100 types of papilloma virus, about 40 lead to various diseases. As a rule, the virus affects the genitals of a person. Its external manifestation is the appearance of growths (papillomas) on the skin.
The incubation period of the virus after ingestion can last from several weeks to several years. In 90% of cases, the human body itself will get rid of foreign microbodies. The danger of the virus is only for weakened immunity. Therefore, papilloma often manifests itself during other diseases, such as flu.
The most serious consequence of papilloma can be cervical cancer in women. 14 known strains of this virus are highly oncogenic.
Is cattle leukemia virus dangerous for humans?
Viruses can infect not only people, but also animals. Since a person eats animal products, the question of the danger of such pathogens to humans is increasingly being raised.
The leukemia virus is in first place for the defeat of cattle (cattle). It infects the blood of cows, sheep, goats and provokes serious diseases, and in some cases death.
Studies show that more than 70% of people have antibodies in their blood that can fight cattle leukemia virus. However, this does not exclude the possibility of human infection with this virus. The likelihood that cattle leukemia can lead to blood cancer in humans is very small, but there is the possibility of other negative consequences. Leukemia virus can attach to human cells, causing mutations. In the future, this may create his new strain, which will be equally dangerous for both animals and humans.
Although viruses can be beneficial to people, this does not block their harm. More people died from them than died in all the wars of the world for all times. This article lists the most dangerous viruses in the world. We hope you find this information useful. Be healthy!