After knowing who names the new viruses, I found it interesting to read and do a little research on which were the 20 most lethal pandemics in history since, as we all know, unfortunately, COVID-19 has taken many lives.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused at least 4,725,638 deaths in the world since the WHO office in China reported the appearance of the disease in December 2019. Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 230,520,700 people have contracted the illness. Many people had recovered fast from it but many others had symptoms for several weeks. The WHO even estimates that if the over-mortality linked to #COVID -19 is taken into account, directly and indirectly, the balance of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that officially registered. However, the story can help put what is happening in perspective. Here is a #review of the most significant pandemics on record:

Antonina Plague (165-180): 5 Million Deaths

The further one goes back in time, the less precise are the details about diseases and their consequences. But there is more than enough historical evidence to know that the Antonine plague was devastating in its time. The infection broke out in the Roman Empire after the return of troops who had fought in the Middle East. The disease is believed to have been smallpox or measles, but there is no consensus among historians.

It is known as the Antonine plague by the name of the ruling dynasty in Rome at the time. In fact, there are indications that the emperor Lucio Vero, who ruled together with his adoptive brother Marco Aurelio, died in the year 169 victim of this evil. Current estimates put 5 million deaths, which would make it the seventh deadliest pandemic in history.

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Justinian Plague (541-542): 30-50 Million Deaths

The epicenter of the outbreak was Constantinople - now Istanbul -, the capital of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire). The origin was the rats that arrived on merchant ships from different corners of Eurasia, carriers of fleas infected with the bubonic plague.

Emperor Justinian I also contracted the disease but survived. Estimates of between 30 and 50 million deaths as a result of the pandemic span the two centuries in which it re-emerged. That makes it the fourth-worst ever.

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