The most dangerous viruses for humans

In the world there are a myriad of microorganisms, 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 the cosmos. Although not all of them are dangerous, more than 80% of all human diseases are caused by viruses.

Back in the 40s of last century, mankind was aware of about 40 diseases, provoked by them. For today, this figure is more than 500, in addition to the fact that every year they are discovering new kinds of them. People have learned to fight viruses, but knowledge is not always enough - more than 10 of their species remain the most dangerous for humanity. Viruses are the causative agents of dangerous human diseases. Let's look at the main ones.

Hantaviruses

The most dangerous type of virus is hantavirus. When contacting small rodents or products of their vital activity, there is a chance of getting infected. They can provoke many diseases, the most dangerous among which are hemorrhagic fever and hantavirus syndrome. The first disease kills every tenth, the probability of a lethal outcome after the second is 36%. The biggest 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? Ebola fever epidemic created panic in the world community just a year ago. The virus was discovered in 1976, during the epidemic in the Congo. Its name was given in honor of the Ebola River, in the basin of which there was an outbreak. Symptoms of Ebola disease are many, 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 more than 12,000 lives.

What is dangerous for the influenza virus?

Of course, no one will argue that a dangerous virus is ordinary flu. Every year more than 10% of the world's population suffers from it, which makes it one of the most common and unforeseen.

The main danger for people is not the virus itself, but the complications that it can cause (kidney disease, pulmonary and brain edema, heart failure). Of the 600,000 people who died last year of influenza, only 30% of deaths were caused directly by the virus, the lethal outcome of the others - the result of complications.

Mutations - this is another danger of the flu virus. Due to the constant use of antibiotics, the disease becomes stronger every year. Chicken and swine flu, whose epidemics have erupted in the past 10 years, is another confirmation of this. In the case of the most unfavorable scenario, in a few dozen years, drugs that can fight the flu will carry extreme danger to humans.

Rotavirus

The most dangerous type of virus for children is rotavirus. Although the medicine is effective enough, about half a million babies die of this ailment each year. This disease causes acute diarrhea, the body quickly dehydrates and death occurs. Most of the 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 among the top ten deadly viruses that can be infected from animals.

About 30% of the diseases with this virus end lethal. In the early stages of this disease, a person is tormented by fever, nausea, and muscle pain. With more severe leakage - jaundice, pancreatitis, liver failure. The carriers of the disease are not only people, but also rodents, as well as some types of monkeys.

Hepatitis in action

What other dangerous viruses are known? There are more than 100 of their species that affect the human liver. The most dangerous of them are hepatitis B and C. This virus is not for nothing nicknamed the "tender killer", because he can be in the human body for many years without causing tangible symptoms.

Hepatitis often leads to the death of liver cells, that is, to cirrhosis. Cure the pathology caused by strains B and C of this virus is almost impossible. At the time of detection of hepatitis in the human body, the ailment, as a rule, is already in a chronic form.

The discoverer of this disease was the Russian biologist Botkin. He found a strain of hepatitis 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 is the appearance on the body of a purulent rash. Only in the past century, smallpox killed about half a billion people. To combat this disease, colossal material resources (about $ 300 million) were thrown. Yet virologists have achieved success: the last known case of smallpox was recorded forty years ago.

Deadly rabies virus

The rabies virus is the first of this rating, leading to a fatal outcome in 100% of cases. Infecting with rabies can be after the bite of a sick animal. The disease proceeds asymptomatically until the time when it is no longer possible to save a person.

The rabies virus causes severe damage to the nervous system. At the last stages of the disease a person becomes violent, experiences a constant sense of fear, suffers from insomnia. A few days before the death, blindness and paralysis ensue.

In the history of medicine, only 3 people were able to save themselves from rabies.

Lassa virus

What other dangerous human viruses are known ? The Lassa fever caused by this virus is one of the most dangerous diseases in West Africa. It affects the human nervous system, kidneys, lungs, can cause myocarditis. During the entire period of the disease, the body temperature does not fall below 39-40 degrees. A lot of painful purulent ulcers appear on the body.

The carriers of the Lassa virus are small rodents. A disease is transmitted by contact. Every year about 500 thousand people get infected, of which 5-10 thousand die. With severe form of Lassa fever, mortality can reach 50%.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

The most dangerous type of virus is HIV. He is considered the most dangerous of those that are known to man at this time.

Specialists found that the first case of transmission of this virus from primacy to man happened in 1926. The first lethal case was recorded in 1959. In the 60s of the last century, the symptoms of AIDS were found in American prostitutes, but special importance was not attached to it. HIV was considered simply a complicated form of pneumonia.

A separate HIV disease was recognized only in 1981, after the epidemic began among homosexuals. Within 4 years, scientists have found ways to transfer this disease: blood and semen. The real AIDS epidemic in the world began 20 years ago. HIV is rightly called the plague of the 20th century.

This disease affects primarily the immune system. As a result, AIDS itself does not lead to death. But an HIV-infected person who simply lacks immunity can die from a simple cold.

All attempts to invent a vaccine against HIV at the moment have not been successful.

What is dangerous for the papilloma virus?

About 70% of people are carriers of the papilloma virus, most of them are women. Passes papilloma sexually. Of the more than 100 species of the papilloma virus, about 40 cause various diseases. Typically, the virus affects the human genital organs. Its external manifestation is the appearance on the skin of the growths (papillomas).

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 the alien microbody. The danger of the virus is only for weakened immunity. Therefore, papilloma is often manifested during other diseases, such as influenza.

The most serious consequence of papilloma can be cervical cancer in women. 14 known strains of this virus are highly monogenic.

Is the human leukemia virus dangerous?

Viruses can affect not only humans, but also animals. As a person eats animal products, the question of the danger of such pathogens for people is increasingly raised.

The leukemia virus is in the first place in 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 the blood that can fight the leukemia virus of cattle. 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 a possibility of other negative consequences. A leukemia virus can attach to human cells, causing mutations. In the future, this can create a new strain that will be equally dangerous for both animals and humans.

Although viruses can benefit people, this does not cover their harm. More people died from them than died in all the wars of the world for all time. This article lists the most dangerous viruses in the world. We hope that this information will be useful to you. Be healthy!