- The first known virus was the tobacco mosaic virus and was discovered by Martinus Beijerinck in 1899.
- At present, more than 5,000 different types have been described, although it is thought that the real number could be infinite.
- Not all viruses are dangerous or deadly because some reproduce without harming the infected organism.
Humans have always been fascinated by the unknown. Although the mystery is not only to know if there is life on other planets but also for tiny-dimensional entities that are among us. In this case it is the Viruses and although they cannot be seen without the support of microscopes, there are some that are too dangerous and are classified as deadly.
Despite the constant research carried out around the world, there is still much to discover. The clearest example can be seen with the appearance of the SARS-CoV-2. It is responsible for the most serious pandemic in the last 100 years, although its origin is still unknown.
What is a virus?
Before moving forward it is necessary to start with the basics. It’s about a microscopic, acellular infectious agent that can only replicate within the cells of other organisms. Viruses are made up of genes that contain nucleic acids that form long molecules of DNA or RNA, surrounded by proteins.
According to the medical literature, the first known virus was the tobacco mosaic virus and was discovered by Martinus Beijerinck in 1899. Instead, more than 5,000 have currently been described, although it is thought that the number could be infinite.
A very important point is that not all pathogens of this type are dangerous or cause disease. Many reproduce without harming the infected organism.
On the other hand, from the study of these microorganisms important advances have been made in Medicine. The most important are the vaccines and drugs that have been developed. At the same time, one of the most important observations to make is that antibiotics have no effect on viruses.
Can viruses be deadly?
The short answer is yes, and many have been responsible for some of the most serious health crises in history. In this regard, the user @doc.jor He made a video on the subject. By way of a list, he placed those that have caused the most deaths and some are even active in some regions of the planet.
- Black Death
- Smallpox
- SARS-CoV
- bird flu
- ebola
The indisputable first place of the deadliest virus in history is for the black plague. It is responsible for the largest pandemic on record and only in the 14th century caused between 80 and 200 million deaths in Europe.
In the case of SARS-CoV It should not be confused with the cause of Covid-19, but it is the previous version. He is responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the first cases were reported in 2002 but since 2004 there have been no new infections.
For her part, the bird flu it is also another of the deadliest viruses known. Although as its name indicates, it only affects birds. However, some of the most recent research argues that the pathogen could make the leap to mammals.
The list is closed by ebola because to date it has a mortality rate of over 80%. Outbreaks are constantly occurring in various parts of Africa, each leading to hundreds of deaths.
@doc.jor THE 5 MOST DEADLY VIRUSES IN THE WORLD #medicine #virus #fyp #doctor
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Khosta-2, a new dangerous virus quite similar to SARS-CoV-2