Various species of living things live on Earth. These organisms include microscopic bacteria and viruses. Although many of these are beneficial to humans, some are deadly creatures that could bring about the end of humanity. Throughout history, many epidemics have emerged in different geographies and have somehow ended. How these diseases arise, how effective they are and how they end are among the topics that are wondered.
Thanks to the advancement of medicine with today’s technology, it has become possible to fight many diseases. But the bacteria that make people sick are in a struggle to survive. It has continued to influence humanity by appearing in different times and geographies in every period. Some of the epidemics in the past are as follows;
Antoninus (Galen) Outbreak
It is an epidemic disease in the Roman Empire between 165 and 180 AD. The Antoninus epidemic, also known as the Plague of Galen, was named after the Greek doctor who lived at that time. The disease was brought by the soldiers returning from the eastern expedition and spread rapidly, causing the death of 2 thousand people a day. This disease is one of the first known major plague epidemics in history. During the time of the Roman Empire, which was a great empire, it spread over the widest geography.
It was suspected that the disease was smallpox or measles, but the true cause could not be determined exactly. Due to the epidemic, 30 percent of the total population died, including the Roman Emperors Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. It is known that the disease lasted for about 20 years and started the collapse of the Roman Empire.
Doctor Galenos, one of the important people struggling with the disease, realized that normal methods for the treatment of patients did not work and tried different methods. Pompeii City It has been observed that milk from the nearby Stabiae miraculously cured some patients. For this reason, the milk of the city and the soil in Armenia were used in treatments and hundreds of people were healed.
Justinian Plague
Plague of Justinian; It is one of the worst epidemics that began in Europe during the reign of Emperor Justinian in 541. The epidemic first emerged in Egypt and then spread to Palestine, Syria and Anatolia. Emperor Justinian closed all entrances and exits to Constantinople, but could not prevent the spread of the disease. The disease was spread through rats, which were among the supplies brought to the city by the military units. A flying insect called ‘Xenopsylla’ found in mice carried the deadly plague bacterium called ‘Pasteurella pestie’ in its stomach. Flying insects bit people, causing them to get sick and die within a few days.
The disease affected the whole world over time and caused the death of more than 50 million people. The number of deaths is not known precisely because the epidemic has reached devastating dimensions. Adequate precautions could not be taken against the disease and it was tried to stay away from sick people. It is known that the epidemic lasts for about 9 years and ends by itself over time. During the epidemic, when Constantinople lost 40 percent of its population, the Byzantine Empire weakened and became vulnerable to attacks.
Black Plague Epidemic
The black plague epidemic, which emerged between 1346 and 1353, caused the death of 75 to 200 million people. Although the number of people who died is not known exactly, it is known that the population of Europe decreased by 60 percent during the epidemic period. It is known as the most devastating epidemic in human history. It is said that the epidemic started in a small colony in Crimea and then came to Sicily. Later, it spread to the whole European country and took the world under its influence within a year. How the disease emerged could not be understood, people did not know how to protect themselves. In fact, the idea that divine power curses people has emerged due to wars.
In 1348, the idea of quarantine was introduced in Venice and the sailors who came to the port were quarantined for 30 days. After 1350, quarantine was implemented in many parts of Europe. It is said that the contagiousness of the disease decreases and ends after quarantine practices. After the black plague epidemic, the Reformation movements in religion and the Renaissance period began in many areas of life.
Great Plague of London
The great plague epidemic is considered to be a short-lived pandemic that took place in the 17th century. It is estimated that 100 thousand people died due to the epidemic. In this epidemic disease, it was transmitted from animals to humans. England had to kill dogs, cats and other animals in the area in London in order to prevent the disease. At the same time, people were forbidden to leave the house and sick people were left to die in rural areas. Red crosses were drawn in the houses where people infected with the disease were located, and entry and exit were prohibited. It is thought that the disease, which lasted for 18 months, ended as a result of the quarantine practices.
Chickenpox Outbreak
Chickenpox epidemic is a very common type of epidemic. The virus, which is highly contagious, causes small pimples to appear all over the human body. In the 15th century, there was a great epidemic among the Native Americans. During the period when Europeans discovered the American continent, they came into contact with the natives living in the continent and transmitted this disease. Chickenpox, which spread in Europe before its discovery, killed a third of the population, but improved their immune systems. Native Americans, who were newly acquainted with the disease, could not fight because their immunity was not developed and the drugs were insufficient. Millions of people died and 90 percent of the indigenous population was wiped out. Until the beginning of the 19th century, most of the natives living in America died due to diseases from Europe. Scientist Edward Jenner produced the first vaccine containing antibodies to combat this disease.
Cholera Epidemic
The cholera epidemic affected the world between 1817 and 1923. The first cholera epidemic started in India and spread in a short time. The epidemic, which caused the death of millions of people, has been experienced 7 times. In 1854, British Doctor John Snow succeeded in establishing that cholera is a disease that affects the intestines. It has been revealed that the disease is mostly transmitted by contaminated water or products contaminated with feces. People have found to clean their water sources or boil it before using it. The source of the epidemic was found and precautions were taken and prevented. It is said that the 7th cholera epidemic in 1965 has continued until today. Many people die due to the epidemic that continues to be experienced in underdeveloped countries.
