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The exact illness that devastated Athens is still unknown, fueling ongoing speculation.
The Plague of Galenis, as it was also known, is believed to have been an outbreak of smallpox or measles. It first impacted the Huns, but over time, the plague spread across the Roman Empire.
The pandemic continued until 180 AD. While Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius' passing is believed to have been natural, there is speculation that he died of the plague.
The Cyprian Plague, named after Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, is believed to have originated in Ethiopia and subsequently spread to Egypt and Rome. Eventually, in 444, it reached Britain, rendering the Britons vulnerable and prompting them to request aid from the Saxons in their battles against the Scots and the Picts.
Believed to be the first outbreak of bubonic plague, the Justinian Plague started in Egypt and later disseminated across the Byzantine Empire and the Mediterranean.
The plague claimed the lives of around 50 million people over a span of two centuries, wiping out around 26% of the global population.
During the Middle Ages, the disease spread across Europe. People back then believed it was a divine punishment, and those afflicted were thought to be cursed.
Leprosy, also called Hansen's disease, continues to impact many people around the globe. Fortunately, in its initial stages, this bacterial ailment can be effectively treated.
Responsible for wiping out one-third of the world population, this global epidemic of bubonic plague was truly devastating.
Upon Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas, the Taíno tribe, native to the Caribbean, amounted to approximately 60,000 individuals. However, their population had dwindled to fewer than 500 by 1548.
Diseases introduced by Europeans, including measles and the bubonic plague, resulted in the deaths of around 90% of the indigenous population. For instance, a smallpox epidemic annihilated the Aztec Empire.
In 1665, the second wave of the bubonic plague claimed 20% of London's population.
After the Great Plague, Londoners faced another calamity—the Great Fire of London in 1666, adding to their hardships.
This marked the first outbreak of seven cholera global epidemics in the following century and a half. Initially believed to have originated in Russia, it swiftly spread worldwide, resulting in approximately 150,000 fatalities.
The third cholera pandemic, occurring from 1852 to 1860, had a significant impact, claiming approximately one million lives.
The third bout of the bubonic plague originated in China before spreading to India and Hong Kong, claiming approximately 15 million lives.
Surprisingly, the pandemic stayed active until 1960.
During the incorporation of Fiji into the British Empire, Fijian chief Ratu Cakobau embarked on a journey to Australia, where a measles outbreak occurred.
After he came back, the illness spread and ended up causing the death of approximately 40,000 individuals, which accounted for one-third of Fiji's population back then.
The pandemic originated in Siberia and Kazakhstan, subsequently spreading across Europe, North America, and Africa.
By 1890, approximately 360,000 individuals fell victim to the Russain Flu.
Contrary to its name, studies indicate that this "bird flu" strain is likely to have originated from the United States and spread to Europe in WWI.
The outbreak persisted for about a year, causing an estimated 20 to 50 million fatalities worldwide. It affected roughly 40% of the world's population.
The Asian Flu originated in Hong Kong and subsequently spread across China, the US, and eventually the UK.
Approximately 1.1 million individuals worldwide lost their lives during the 1957-1958 pandemic.
The first case of this influenza was recorded in July 1968 in Hong Kong. Within three months, the virus had spread to Europe, the US, India, Australia, and the Philippines.
Around one million people worldwide lost their lives due to the pandemic, including 500,000 residents from Hong Kong, approximately 15% of its population.
Originating in Africa, the virus emerged in the US during the early 1980s and was linked to chimpanzees.
More than 35 million individuals have lost their lives due to illnesses associated with AIDS. While medical progress has enabled patients to control the disease, a definitive cure remains elusive.
The COVID-19 virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in 2019. By early 2020, it had rapidly spread worldwide, resulting in unprecedented global lockdown measures.
Within a span of three years, the virus, resulting in symptoms similar to the flu, affected over 700 million individuals and caused 6.9 million confirmed deaths.
Almost a year after the start of the pandemic, vaccines were created and gradually distributed around the world. Despite remaining a pandemic according to the World Health Organization, the COVID-19 virus's fatality rate has significantly decreased, all thanks to the vaccines.
The first recorded pandemic in history took place amidst the Peloponnesian War, leading to the demise of approximately two-thirds of Athens' population.
The illness continues to persist, with approximately 650 new cases recorded yearly. Treatment yields a 10% fatality rate, but the likelihood of a fatal outcome escalates significantly if left untreated.
In this gallery, we look back on the worst pandemics throughout history. Click on.
Plague, leprosy, and COVID-19: The most devastating pandemics in history
Deadly diseases that wiped out millions
HEALTH Outbreaks
Since the beginning of time, disease has afflicted humanity. Fortunately, medicine has progressed and continues to do so. Diseases that were once deadly can now be treated and prevented. But now and then, an outbreak overwhelms us, and as history has shown, the consequences are catastrophic.
In this gallery, we look back on the worst pandemics throughout history. Click on.