The Biggest Outbreaks Throughout History

Cholera

Cholera is a little unique among outbreaks because there was no single outbreak that made the top of the list. However, when all of the cases are combined, it is easy to see that this disease has been responsible for millions of casualties. The first cases of cholera were reported in India around 1817, but it rapidly spread around the world. It tends to come in waves, flaring up in a violent pandemic before disappearing for a few years. America alone has faced three serious epidemics between 1832 and 1866. At the height of the outbreak, approximately six patients were perishing per day from this disease. Many individuals did not even know the cause of it until Dr. John Snow discovered that the Broad Street cholera outbreak in London was connected to a specific well. This illness spreads through unclean drinking water, and it causes severe diarrhea and vomiting that can make a patient fatally dehydrated. Even in modern times, the condition continues to cause problems. The World Health Organization estimates that 120,000 individuals expire from cholera every single year.