The Biggest Outbreaks Throughout History

SARS

SARS may not have as many casualties as some of the other viruses on this list, but it is quite unusual for the number of fatalities it caused in just a short amount of time. It was first noticed in 2002 when the Chinese population initially thought they had a mild case of the flu. However, the disease quickly spread, and it became apparent that it was not the flu, asit began taking patients' lives. Scientists managed to stop this devasting disease by 2004. Before it was stoppedin its tracks, it had infected individuals throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. A particularly concerning problem with SARS is that there is no known cure or vaccine. Once a patient gets it, all that the doctors can do is try to provide support and care for the symptoms. In the young and healthy, there is a fatality rate of about ten percent, but among the old or ill, the fatality rate soars to over fifty percent.