Marburg virus
The Marburg virus is considered the deadliest virus in the world, with a body count that will likely give any sane person the heeby-jeebies. Marburg is deadly because it takes its cues from its sister virus, ebola, in that the endgame is massive hemorrhaging and slow, agonizing, messy death. Unlike ebola, however, the Marburg murderer — we don't care if we hurt a virus's feelings by calling it names — has an 88% fatality rate, with no signs of stopping for breath.
Basically, ebola waits, Marburg takes. Not only do symptoms start immediately after exposure, they're rapid, beginning with severe headaches and malaise, incubating for 2-21 days, and then taking lives. Vomiting, diarrhea, internal/external bleeding, and organ failure occur within the same week, followed by death. Generally, blood loss and dehydration are the actual cause of death, and even then, the virus remains active, able to spread through handling of dead tissue and bodily fluids.
We haven't mentioned anything about a vaccine, because there isn't one. There is currently no cure nor vaccine to combat this thing. Once you have it, there is only intensive care and the hope that doctors can make your death as comfortable as possible. They probably won't succeed much, since if you get it, you'll likely spend your remaining days in a quarantine lab, surrounded by plastic, sterilized metal, and vented air. Sounds like the worst way to retire
HIV/AIDS
the deadliest virus in the world, the one with the highest level of infection, and a continued plague on public health on a global scale, is the sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS virus. According to the good people of WHO, HIV/AIDS killed an estimated 1.1 million people in 2015 alone, and over 36.7 million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS. So just because you might hear about it less these days doesn't mean it's retired. Nope, this virus is serious, and works serious overtime.
HIV/AIDS is transmitted through bodily fluids like blood, semen, pus, breast milk, and discharge. Contrary to popular belief, it cannot be transmitted through saliva, by touching an infected person, or by sharing their food, drink, or bed with them. That's about the only good thing we can say about it. Once inside, HIV/AIDS attacks the immune system, destroying white blood cells and replicating itself inside its cell-corpse. This initially results in the ever-familiar flu-like symptoms (severe weight loss, headaches, fever, sore throat, a rash, and the like). Real symptoms usually don't manifest until later stages of infection, which can be upwards of ten years after infection for some people. After the immune system is effectively broken down, it isn't HIV or AIDS itself that kills, so much as the virus' devastating onslaught on the immune system.
HIV/AIDS has proven formidable to medical professionals everywhere. There exists no known cure, though in the last 15 years, advances have been made to ensure those living with HIV/AIDS are able to take medicine to slow the encroachment and assault of the virus. There is plenty of preventive measures out there, though, between abstinence, condom use, and dental dams (for use during oral sex), plus most clinics offer free testing for HIV/AIDS, along with a bevy of medical advancements for those already infected.
Anthrax
Anthrax isn't just a mid-tier metal band — it's another deadly disease that has swept the nation. All forms of this disease are fatal without question. That's the bad news. And now for the … worse news: it can be contracted via different entry points, like an exposed wound, inhalation, injection, or ingestion.
OK, good news time: anthrax is a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria. Why's that good news? It's because anthrax isn't actually a viral infection, but a bacterial one, so it can be treated with antibiotics. However, time between infection and treatment is short, and must be done swiftly. Otherwise, there's an entire stint of pain and possible death on the schedule.
Unlike other deadly infections, anthrax has verifiable symptoms that aids us in identifying it before the infection becomes fatal. They vary, according to how you caught. If you catch anthrax through an open wound (called cutaneous infection), you get a cluster of ugly blisters at the site of infection. Following the blister cluster phase, a single black blister will emerge around your neck, face, or hands. The blister's painless, but unable to be cleansed with your local seaweed and charcoal mask. It's a sign.
If you've inhaled the infection, expect fevers, chills, and flu-like symptoms. You may also experience extreme fatigue, sweats, shortness of breath, pneumonia-like chest pains, headaches, and body aches. Swallow the stuff– please don't ever do that, by the way — you'll win all of the above, plus the limited and exciting addition of abdominal cramping and pain, a swollen neck or neck glands, bloody diarrhea/vomit, a swollen stomach, a sore throat, and painful swallowing. Of course, it wouldn't be a party without the omnipresent and ubiquitous fainting spells from which no amount of smelling salts can wake you.
Did you manage to have anthrax injected into your system? Well, symptoms are wildly similar to cutaneous infection, plus the added party favors of: swelling around the blister cluster, abscesses deep beneath the skin or muscle around the injection site, and of course, flu-like symptoms. What would an infectious and deadly disease be without that?
Anthrax infects mainly herbivorous animals, and so those who handle said animals are the most at risk of contracting the disease, including farmers of livestock, veterinarians, and anyone in the military or medical profession exposed to the bioterror attacks involving anthrax spores. Walking around with a respiration mask doesn't seem so ridiculous anymore, does it?
Also, you should probably go hug your dog. Again. But not your cow. Just in case.
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The deadliest viruses still in existence ( part 1 )
The Marburg virus is considered the deadliest virus in the world, with a body count that will likely give any sane person the heeby-jeebies. Marburg is deadly because it takes its cues from its sister virus, ebola, in that the endgame is massive hemorrhaging and slow, agonizing, messy death. Unlike ebola, however, the Marburg murderer — we don't care if we hurt a virus's feelings by calling it names — has an 88% fatality rate, with no signs of stopping for breath.
Basically, ebola waits, Marburg takes. Not only do symptoms start immediately after exposure, they're rapid, beginning with severe headaches and malaise, incubating for 2-21 days, and then taking lives. Vomiting, diarrhea, internal/external bleeding, and organ failure occur within the same week, followed by death. Generally, blood loss and dehydration are the actual cause of death, and even then, the virus remains active, able to spread through handling of dead tissue and bodily fluids.
We haven't mentioned anything about a vaccine, because there isn't one. There is currently no cure nor vaccine to combat this thing. Once you have it, there is only intensive care and the hope that doctors can make your death as comfortable as possible. They probably won't succeed much, since if you get it, you'll likely spend your remaining days in a quarantine lab, surrounded by plastic, sterilized metal, and vented air. Sounds like the worst way to retire
HIV/AIDS
the deadliest virus in the world, the one with the highest level of infection, and a continued plague on public health on a global scale, is the sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS virus. According to the good people of WHO, HIV/AIDS killed an estimated 1.1 million people in 2015 alone, and over 36.7 million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS. So just because you might hear about it less these days doesn't mean it's retired. Nope, this virus is serious, and works serious overtime.
HIV/AIDS is transmitted through bodily fluids like blood, semen, pus, breast milk, and discharge. Contrary to popular belief, it cannot be transmitted through saliva, by touching an infected person, or by sharing their food, drink, or bed with them. That's about the only good thing we can say about it. Once inside, HIV/AIDS attacks the immune system, destroying white blood cells and replicating itself inside its cell-corpse. This initially results in the ever-familiar flu-like symptoms (severe weight loss, headaches, fever, sore throat, a rash, and the like). Real symptoms usually don't manifest until later stages of infection, which can be upwards of ten years after infection for some people. After the immune system is effectively broken down, it isn't HIV or AIDS itself that kills, so much as the virus' devastating onslaught on the immune system.
HIV/AIDS has proven formidable to medical professionals everywhere. There exists no known cure, though in the last 15 years, advances have been made to ensure those living with HIV/AIDS are able to take medicine to slow the encroachment and assault of the virus. There is plenty of preventive measures out there, though, between abstinence, condom use, and dental dams (for use during oral sex), plus most clinics offer free testing for HIV/AIDS, along with a bevy of medical advancements for those already infected.
Anthrax
Anthrax isn't just a mid-tier metal band — it's another deadly disease that has swept the nation. All forms of this disease are fatal without question. That's the bad news. And now for the … worse news: it can be contracted via different entry points, like an exposed wound, inhalation, injection, or ingestion.
OK, good news time: anthrax is a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria. Why's that good news? It's because anthrax isn't actually a viral infection, but a bacterial one, so it can be treated with antibiotics. However, time between infection and treatment is short, and must be done swiftly. Otherwise, there's an entire stint of pain and possible death on the schedule.
Unlike other deadly infections, anthrax has verifiable symptoms that aids us in identifying it before the infection becomes fatal. They vary, according to how you caught. If you catch anthrax through an open wound (called cutaneous infection), you get a cluster of ugly blisters at the site of infection. Following the blister cluster phase, a single black blister will emerge around your neck, face, or hands. The blister's painless, but unable to be cleansed with your local seaweed and charcoal mask. It's a sign.
If you've inhaled the infection, expect fevers, chills, and flu-like symptoms. You may also experience extreme fatigue, sweats, shortness of breath, pneumonia-like chest pains, headaches, and body aches. Swallow the stuff– please don't ever do that, by the way — you'll win all of the above, plus the limited and exciting addition of abdominal cramping and pain, a swollen neck or neck glands, bloody diarrhea/vomit, a swollen stomach, a sore throat, and painful swallowing. Of course, it wouldn't be a party without the omnipresent and ubiquitous fainting spells from which no amount of smelling salts can wake you.
Did you manage to have anthrax injected into your system? Well, symptoms are wildly similar to cutaneous infection, plus the added party favors of: swelling around the blister cluster, abscesses deep beneath the skin or muscle around the injection site, and of course, flu-like symptoms. What would an infectious and deadly disease be without that?
Anthrax infects mainly herbivorous animals, and so those who handle said animals are the most at risk of contracting the disease, including farmers of livestock, veterinarians, and anyone in the military or medical profession exposed to the bioterror attacks involving anthrax spores. Walking around with a respiration mask doesn't seem so ridiculous anymore, does it?
Also, you should probably go hug your dog. Again. But not your cow. Just in case.
click subscribe
The deadliest viruses still in existence ( part 1 )
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