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re: A history of pandemics
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:07 am to Kentucker
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:07 am to Kentucker
The death counts on this chart seem a little high. Bubonic Plague death counts vary widely, the chart says 200M, but I see more like 50M in some google searching.
Bubonic Plague:
Death toll - 50,000,000
World population - 360,000,000
13.8% of world population
Plague of Justinian:
Death toll - 25,000,000
World population - 200,000,000
12.5% of world population
Spanish Flu:
Death toll - 50,000,000
World population - 1,500,000,000
3.3% of world population
I'll take my downvotes in advance, but here is COVID-19:
COVID-19:
Death toll - 535,000
World population - 7,800,000,000
0.006% of world population
Bubonic Plague:
Death toll - 50,000,000
World population - 360,000,000
13.8% of world population
Plague of Justinian:
Death toll - 25,000,000
World population - 200,000,000
12.5% of world population
Spanish Flu:
Death toll - 50,000,000
World population - 1,500,000,000
3.3% of world population
I'll take my downvotes in advance, but here is COVID-19:
COVID-19:
Death toll - 535,000
World population - 7,800,000,000
0.006% of world population
1
Posted on 7/13/20 at 6:18 pm to Ronaldo Burgundiaz
I agree that population counts and death totals are likely “educated guesses” at best. Even today a precise count of the number of people on the planet is just not possible.
Authoritarian regimes can probably get accurate data but most countries depend upon voluntary data to be submitted from highly mobile populaces that might not be interested in participating in head counts.
Authoritarian regimes can probably get accurate data but most countries depend upon voluntary data to be submitted from highly mobile populaces that might not be interested in participating in head counts.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 6:29 pm to Ronaldo Burgundiaz
quote:
I'd like to see this chart population adjusted.
I would also like to see it list the effects of malaria, the greatest microbial killer of all time. Some health scientists estimate that malaria, caused by a plasmodium, has killed half of all humans who have ever lived, that’s 54 billion victims, and still kills 1 million every year with 67% of those being children.
Posted on 7/14/20 at 10:06 am to Kentucker
Dont for get 2 World wars
Posted on 7/14/20 at 11:39 am to WhiteMandingo
Though not related to the topic, the number of deaths in the two world wars is very interesting data.
WW 1 - 20 million
WW 2 - 85 million
The number of people who have died because of wars and smaller conflicts throughout history has to be in the billions, maybe even rivaling that of malaria.
WW 1 - 20 million
WW 2 - 85 million
The number of people who have died because of wars and smaller conflicts throughout history has to be in the billions, maybe even rivaling that of malaria.
Posted on 7/14/20 at 11:59 am to Kentucker
The WWI numbers probably swell a bit when you consider the overstretched governments were completely unable to handle the Spanish Flu.
God only knows what would have happened if the Spanish Flu hit at the end of World War II.
For me what is worrisome is not, "those pandemics were far worse", it is that this pandemic is so bad even though our ability to treat disease is vastly higher.
God only knows what would have happened if the Spanish Flu hit at the end of World War II.
For me what is worrisome is not, "those pandemics were far worse", it is that this pandemic is so bad even though our ability to treat disease is vastly higher.
Posted on 7/14/20 at 12:01 pm to Kentucker
Comparing with historical numbers when this is only just beginning is disingenuous at best.
Posted on 7/14/20 at 12:27 pm to Arksulli
quote:
For me what is worrisome is not, "those pandemics were far worse", it is that this pandemic is so bad even though our ability to treat disease is vastly higher.
I think this pandemic is showing us our limitations to medical research. Coronaviruses have been around as long as humans have been a species, it seems. You’d think by now we’d have a handle on them.
Yet here comes a novel one and knocks humanity back on our heels. In the long run we may all benefit if a vaccine can actually be created for this very stealthy family of viruses. I think production from workforces would increase dramatically if the common cold can be eliminated along with COVID-19.
Posted on 7/14/20 at 12:30 pm to transcend
quote:
Comparing with historical numbers when this is only just beginning is disingenuous at best.
I don’t think anyone is forming any conclusions based upon this chart. To do so would be premature and a waste of time.
Posted on 7/14/20 at 5:02 pm to Kentucker
As a child I cringed at television mentioning the black death. The movies depicted a grizzly scene and still probably didn't do it justice to just how bad it was. I can't imagine a modern day outbreak that is as contagious as covid-19 but killed 75 to 100 percent of its victims. I know Ebola kills most victims but it's hard to catch it compared to covid-19.
Posted on 7/14/20 at 5:51 pm to Commander Data
quote:
As a child I cringed at television mentioning the black death. The movies depicted a grizzly scene and still probably didn't do it justice to just how bad it was. I can't imagine a modern day outbreak that is as contagious as covid-19 but killed 75 to 100 percent of its victims. I know Ebola kills most victims but it's hard to catch it compared to covid-19.
As contagious as Covid-19 and as fatal as the Black Death is the worst case scenario. Well, unless the dead came back to life as zombies. If we think we have unbearable limitations put on our life now something like that would make social distancing seem like a picnic with Papa Smurf and Frosty the Snowman.
If something that horrific really got established and spreading in the world... you'd probably see governments destroying bridges, napalming highways, and establishing safe camps where anyone with so much as a sniffle is taken out and shot.
God help us all, but if we had to choose between 75% of the population dies and mass murder to prevent it... we'd kill a lot of people.
Posted on 7/20/20 at 2:24 pm to Kentucker
Not political at all and I think my thoughts on this matter probably align 100% with yours, I was just bagging on you because this chart has been posted about 3000 times since March!! Looks like they update it weekly? 
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