Cholera Pandemics
The cholera disease, which first emerged in India, caused seven pandemics worldwide between 1827 and 1975, leading to the deaths of millions of people. The Vibrio cholerae bacterium, transmitted through contaminated drinking water, causes severe diarrhea and vomiting due to the infection in the small intestine, resulting in dehydration and fatalities. The exact number of deaths due to cholera pandemics has not been precisely recorded to date.
Plague Pandemics
Numerous plague pandemics, such as the Justinian Plague (541), the Black Death (1346), and the Modern Plague (1894), have led to significant losses in the world population. The plague disease, characterized by symptoms such as shivering, fever, and bleeding, is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Until 2007, plague remained a significant infectious disease threatening global health.
Influenza Pandemics
During World War I, in 1918, although the first cases were reported in the United States, the only country that announced pandemic news was Spain due to its neutral stance in the war. Thus, this pandemic is known as the Spanish Flu, and it caused over 50 million deaths. The understanding that the influenza pathogen was a virus only came in 1933, and preventive measures became the mainstay of disease control.
The Asian Flu (1957), causing two million deaths, the Hong Kong Flu (1968), and the Russian Flu (1889), each resulting in one million deaths, are significant influenza pandemics.
Corona Pandemic
The Corona Pandemic, which originated in China in December 2019 and spread worldwide, is still ongoing. As of now, the number of deaths from the Corona Pandemic has surpassed 2.5 million.
Effective combat against life-threatening infectious diseases is one of humanity’s important responsibilities. As emphasized by modern medicine and Islam, preventive measures such as handwashing, choosing clean and halal food and beverages, and quarantine remain the most effective methods in the fight against infectious diseases.
