The top 10 most costly viruses
to humans
Humans are constantly under threat from viruses – many of which are deadly. Here are the top 10 most costly viruses to humans, in terms of both lives lost and economic damage:
1. HIV/AIDS
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus that causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive.
As of 2016, HIV/AIDS has killed around 35 million people worldwide and inflicted an economic cost of $1.3 trillion.
2. Influenza
Influenza, commonly known as “the flu”, is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and include fever, muscle aches, coughing, and sore throat.
The 1918 flu pandemic was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, killing an estimated 50-100 million people. More recent outbreaks, such as the 2009 swine flu pandemic, have been far less deadly but still resulted in billions of dollars in economic damage.
3. Ebola
Ebola is a highly fatal disease caused by the Ebola virus, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding.
The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was the deadliest to date, with 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths. The economic cost of the outbreak was estimated at $2.2 billion.
4. SARS
SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is a viral respiratory illness caused by the SARS virus. Symptoms include fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
The 2002-2004 SARS outbreak originated in China and spread to over two dozen countries, resulting in 8,098 cases and 774 deaths. The economic cost of the outbreak was estimated at $40 billion.
5. Zika
Zika is a virus that is primarily spread by mosquitos. It can also be spread through sexual contact, blood transfusions, and from mother to child during pregnancy. Symptoms include fever, rash, and joint pain.
The Zika virus outbreak began in Brazil in 2015 and has since spread to over 60 countries. There is no cure or prevention for Zika, and it can cause severe birth defects. The economic cost of the outbreak is estimated at $2.7 billion.
6. West Nile
West Nile is a virus that is spread by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle aches. In severe cases, it can lead to brain damage and death.
The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1937 and has since spread to over 100 countries. The economic cost of the disease is estimated at $760 million per year.
7. Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a virus that is spread by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, and rash. It is rarely fatal, but can cause long-term joint pain.
The virus was first identified in Tanzania in 1952 and has since spread to over 100 countries. There is no cure or prevention for Chikungunya, and no vaccine is available. The economic cost of the disease is estimated at $1.3 billion per year.
8. Cytomegalovirus
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that is usually harmless. However, it can be dangerous for pregnant women, as it can lead to birth defects. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, and sore throat.
CMV is estimated to cause at least 2,000 birth defects each year in the United States, with a total economic cost of $1-4 billion.
9. Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that primarily affects the liver. Symptoms include fatigue, abdominal pain, and jaundice. In severe cases, it can lead to liver failure.
Hepatitis C is estimated to affect 170 million people worldwide, and is the leading cause of liver cancer. The economic cost of the disease is estimated at $15-20 billion per year.
10. Measles
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects young children. Symptoms include fever, rash, and cough. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, and death.
Measles is estimated to kill around 200,000 people each year, primarily in developing countries. The economic cost of the disease is estimated at $1-3 billion per year..Original source
The most dangerous computer viruses today
One of the most dangerous computer viruses today is the Lovebug virus. This virus was discovered in May of 2000 and quickly spread around the world, causing billions of dollars in damage. The Lovebug virus was spread through email attachments and infected computers running Microsoft Outlook and Windows. The virus would send itself out to all the contacts in the infected person’s address book and then display a message that said “I Love You” in an attempt to trick people into opening the attachment. Once the attachment was opened, the virus would replicate itself and spread to other computers. The Lovebug virus caused so much damage because it was able to infect so many computers so quickly.
Another dangerous computer virus is the Mydoom virus. This virus was discovered in January of 2004 and quickly spread around the world, causing billions of dollars in damage. The Mydoom virus was spread through email attachments and infected computers running Microsoft Outlook and Windows. The virus would send itself out to all the contacts in the infected person’s address book and then display a message that said “I Love You” in an attempt to trick people into opening the attachment. Once the attachment was opened, the virus would replicate itself and spread to other computers. The Mydoom virus caused so much damage because it was able to infect so many computers so quickly.
The Storm Worm is another dangerous computer virus. This virus was first discovered in January of 2007 and has since infected millions of computers around the world. The Storm Worm is spread through email attachments and infected computers running Microsoft Outlook and Windows. The virus would send itself out to all the contacts in the infected person’s address book and then display a message that said “I Love You” in an attempt to trick people into opening the attachment. Once the attachment was opened, the virus would replicate itself and spread to other computers. The Storm Worm caused so much damage because it was able to infect so many computers so quickly.
These are just a few of the most dangerous computer viruses that are out there today. There are many more that are just as dangerous and are causing billions of dollars in damage. It is important to be aware of these viruses and to take steps to protect your computer from them.
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