A look at pandemics and pandemic threats in human history

MANILA, Philippines – Health officials in Mexico say that the swine flu outbreaks in Mexico and in the United States have already killed 103 and sickened 1,614. The World Health Organization (WHO), for its part, has called the outbreak a public health emergency of "pandemic potential." A pandemic spreads across regions, continents, or even worldwide, affecting a large population. Here’s a list of pandemics and pandemic threats that have swept the globe over the years. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) From November 2002 to July 2003, the WHO recorded 8,096 cases of SARS, a respiratory disease caused by the SARS coronavirus. The disease was first reported in Guangdong, China in 2002, which eventually killed 774 worldwide. The pandemic spread to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Ireland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, and to China’s special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau. In the Philippines, the WHO recorded 14 cases and two deaths caused by SARS. In 2004, China culled thousands of civet cats after local science experts found that the SARS coronavirus found on human victims was also found in the mongoose-like animals that were considered a delicacy in southern China. The WHO, however, cautioned in linking the origin of the SARS virus to civet cats. The WHO said that while the research showed that the SARS coronavirus were found in some civet cats, “we don't know how many civet cats, or whether it can be transmitted to humans." It also added that while the findings showed that it was possible for civets to transmit SARS to humans, there were no cases to show that the transmission occurred. Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) According to the WHO, EHF is a viral hemorrhagic fever and one of the most virulent viral diseases. About 1,850 cases with over 1,200 deaths, have been documented since the Ebola virus was discovered. The Ebola virus was first identified in Sudan and Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1976 when the epidemic struck Nzara in southern Sudan and Yambuku in northern Zaire. The WHO said the virus was transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected persons. The virus could also be transmitted by handling sick or dead infected wild animals, like chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, and fruit bats. The Ebola virus has five different strains: Bundibugyo, Sudan, Zaïre, Côte d’Ivoire, and Reston. The Bundibugyo, Sudan and Zaïre have caused the deaths in 25-90 percent of all clinically-ill cases, while experts say that the Côte d’Ivoire and Reston strains are not lethal. In early 2009, the Philippines slaughtered and burned more than 6,000 pigs after six farm workers were found to have carried the virus. The infected workers, however, did not display any signs of failing health. According to Philippine health officials, even if the Ebola Reston virus enters the food chain, it will not pose health risk to humans if the meat is handled safely and cooked thoroughly. Avian influenza Commonly known as bird flu, avian influenza is caused by the H5N1 influenza virus strain that has caused global concern as a potential pandemic threat. It is commonly carried by birds and fowls. All birds are believed to be susceptible to the virus, although some species are reported to be more resistant to infection than others. The virus struck Southeast Asia in 2003 and then spread across the rest of the continent, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The Philippines has since remained bird-flu-free. WHO records show that as of April 2009, there are 421 laboratory-confirmed cases of bird flu and 257 deaths since the H5N1 virus strain broke out six years ago. H5N1 may be passed on through contact with infected birds’ saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. There have been recorded cases of poultry-to-poultry transmission and bird-to-human transmission. Scientists have warned that if outbreaks among poultry would not be not controlled, the virus could mutate into a form more easily passed between people, triggering a pandemic that could kill millions worldwide. - GMANews.TV