FX.co ★ World's most dangerous viruses

Marburg

The Marburg virus, which causes a disease of the same name, is one of the most dangerous on the planet. Discovered in 1967 after an outbreak in the German city of Marburg, this pathogen belongs to the Filoviridae family, just like the Ebola virus. It is transmitted to humans by bats of the Rousettus genus and can be spread among humans. The Marburg virus causes a severe form of hemorrhagic fever that can be fatal without timely and adequate treatment. The mortality rate from the disease caused by this virus is as high as 88%.

Ebola

The Ebola virus, which causes the disease of the same name, belongs to the Filoviridae family and manifests itself in the form of hemorrhagic fever. The natural carriers of this pathogen are bats. The Ebola virus was first identified in the mid-1970s during outbreaks in African countries. Today, there are several varieties of this virus, but the Zaire strain with a lethality of up to 90% is considered the deadliest.

Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a family of viruses that are spread primarily by rodents and can cause a variety of diseases. In the United States, the species that causes Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is the most common. This is a rare infectious disease that begins with flu-like symptoms but quickly progresses to a more severe condition. There are also Old-World hantaviruses found in Europe and Asia. They cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

Avian influenza

This virus is most commonly found in wild waterfowl but can affect domestic birds as well. Humans catch the bird flu mainly through contact with infected birds. This explains why most cases of infection are reported in Asia, where people often live near chickens. The symptoms of illness caused by this type of flu can range from mild to severe, including acute respiratory failure and even death. The mortality rate from avian influenza is 70%.

Lassa virus

The Lassa virus was first discovered in 1969 in Lassa, Nigeria, from which it gets its name. It belongs to the arenavirus family and causes an acute viral hemorrhagic disease called Lassa fever. The virus is carried by rodents of the Mastomys genus, which are found in a number of countries in West Africa, including Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Between 300,000 and 500,000 cases of Lassa fever and about 5,000 deaths are reported annually.