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Small Pox Epidemic
In 1901 a smallpox epidemic in Boston, Massachusetts infected 1,500 people with about 270 reported deaths. The first smallpox epidemic in the U.S. erupted in Massachusetts in 1633 when French settlers immigrated. During this outbreak, certain hospitals became “smallpox hospitals” in hopes of preventing anymore spread of the highly contagious virus. Currently some researchers and politicians worry about and are examining the virus being man made as biological weapons against the United States. -
Flu Pandemic
In 1918 the influenza pandemic killed about 675,000 Americans while infecting 25% of the nations populations. In 1918 the United States was still fighting World War 1 over in Europe. If the United States hadn’t been involved in war at this particular time, some historians and medical researchers argue that, the devastation wouldn't have struck the United States as bad because there wouldn't have been so many men carrying the deadly strain back home. [Video](www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbYwNOcKqqch) -
Polio Epidemic
1952 a polio epidemic struck the United States hitting the nation's young, healthy children. Being postwar World War II, the 1950s became known as the “baby boomers”, increasing the youth population greatly. This rise in the youth population during this outbreak increased the the number being affected and some researchers argue that if the polio epidemic had struck at a different time, it would not have been as devastating because the youth population would not have been so high. -
HIV Outbreak
On June 5, 1980 the CDC released its weekly mortality report mentioning an infection that had killed 5 men in Los Angeles. HIV was quickly identified in 1981 to be the prerequisite infection to the killer, AIDs. When the HIV virus started to spread it was highly in the gay community, making medical professionals and society profile the patients as gay when they were diagnosed even if they weren't. Video -
Tuberculosis Outbreak
In the late 1980s a drug resistant strain of Tuberculosis hit New York city. TB is highly contagious through the air and person to person contact; because of the city's dense population this resistant strain hit the population and then traveled to wherever visitors came from. It takes an outbreak like this to become aware of the resistance that has been formed and today more drug resistant strains of disease are being identified by researchers. Viruses are becoming just as smart as we are. -
Cryptosporidium Outbreak
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin two water treatment plants became contaminated with the parasite cryptosporidium. Killing more than 100 and while about 403,000 fell ill making it the largest waterborne outbreak in U.S. history. In October of 2015, a similar event took place in Flint, Michigan were their water supply was contaminated with iron. Events such as these caused the formation of Deparment of Environental Quality that are repsoibdileb to protecting and enhancing water and air quality. -
Swine Flu Pandemic
In 2009 a unique combination of influenza genes leading to one of the worst flu epidemics in the United States since 1918. The virus was originated in Mexico, however with the amount of travel and exported goods in the 20th century this strand quickly moved into America. Within the year about 59 million contracted the virus but only resulted in approximately 12,000 deaths. After the outbreak in 2009 researchers discovered that this strand, H1N1, was the same that caused the 1918 pandemic. -
Man Made Meningitis Outbreak
In 2012 one of the government's worst nightmares regarding contagious disease took place. The CDC reported 720 patients had fallen ill with fungal Meningitis causing inflammation in the brain and spinal cord and 64 had died.It was soon discovered this outbreak stemmed from a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy. In response, the company refused such accusations, shut down the company, and was charged with 25 acts of second degree murder. Researchers fear this "accident' is just the first of many. -
Ebola Pandemic Hits America
The Ebola pandemic reached the United States when a Liberian man tested positive in Texas.In the United States only 11 people tested positive for Ebola, 2 died and 9 recovered. Due to funds and resources, patient were able to be kept alive through extensive measure such as dialysis, antibiotics,and 24 hour care whereas the hospitals in Africa didn't have the means to do this.Today’s social media also played a large role in alerting the public. Video -
Zika
In the United States there have been 691 cases of Zika regarding the current outbreak to date, all of which have been associated with travel. Zika is very dangerous to pregnant women and their babies. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito, that carries Zika, thrives alongside of people resulting in their migration urban countries. Currently researchers are investigating how climate change may also be fueling this outbreak and leading to more. Video -
Outbreak Crisis Today
In the past decade, the Global Health Organization has declared four health emergencies.Viruses have evolved with humans becoming smarter as researchers think they’ve figured them out.The United States is home to many big cities that, as a simple result of being a city, are less hygienic and crowded provides disease a perfect place to flourishes. Today, travel and trade bring more disease in and out of the United States then every imaginable and social media was lead to panic like never before.
