I was watching a thing on the black plague. we all know about how it wiped out a good chunk of europe due to the fact that they had no immunity. it occured to me that a major epidemic like that is practically imminent, but this time more will die than the black death. this makes me wonder, will we be able to defend ourselves against the next super epidemic, or will we keep losing our population until our immune system finally writes the immunity into our genetic code? if we can defend ourselves, how long until our defenses no longer affect it? I would really appreciate your input on this.
A zombie plague would be less and epidemic, more an interesting newscast for the evening. It all starts with patient zero... and would likely end with patient zero, and definitely by patient two or three.
Like others have said, if we have a super epidemic, we have an enlightened science realm that hundreds of years ago was just a mere flicker. Even if said "next super epidemic" was strong enough to put a few of us down and prove rather difficult at times, it wouldn't be as bad as what people had to fare against in the past.
Aids is just the condition of having a low T-cell count due to HIV. FAIL112o13203! just kidding.
that contagious
Only a few unlucky people, babies, and stupid people are likely to get it. The better part of humanity is more or less conserved so we're all okay.
Over time things create immunities so that current vaccines will not work. Think about it!
Technology can pace must faster than the growing immunity of many bacteria. Although some things like penicillin are losing power, I don't think the coming back of any thing we've been able to stop with antibiotics is to come back.
Cyancanine gives the best argument. The Flu is a scary pest in our history.
I think that the next super epidemic will be a disease that already exists! Over time things create immunities so that current vaccines will not work. Think about it
Technology can pace must faster than the growing immunity of many bacteria. Although some things like penicillin are losing power, I don't think the coming back of any thing we've been able to stop with antibiotics is to come back.
As disease progresses or develops in violence, so does the cure. Surely if we are faced with a stronger existing virus, all that's needed is an adjustment to existing medication or an up in the dosage.
Zombies....? Yeah, I'm sure thats going to wipe us out.
The influenza virus is probably the most likely candidate to cause massive destruction. Even though the worst was probably in 1918, there are still scares, such as H1N1, or bird fly.
But the me, the worst would probably be if TB mutated to become a lethal killer. Over 2 billion people worldwide have TB, and if it became anything like the black plague...who needs a zombie apocalypse with that kind of destruction.
As disease progresses or develops in violence, so does the cure. Surely if we are faced with a stronger existing virus, all that's needed is an adjustment to existing medication or an up in the dosage.
Yeah, but it can go on like that several times.. if we are lucky, we will one day find a cure to a certain disease that will attack it at a point where it can't change anything without losing any vital functions, so that it can't develop an immunity to it. If we have bad luck, the disease develops such a strong general immunity that we can't find a good cure fast enough.
Cancer has always been around though, so no "next" with that. Doesn't it have to be contagious to be an epidimic, or just widespread?
HIV/Aids
Currently yes, this is probably the most death causing disease that we cannot cure. Although the virus itself doesn't harm you I don't believe.
The cold/flu are both widespread, but neither are particularly noteworthy. Btw, where did the "common cold" get its name? I'm too lazy to google it tonight, heading to bed now.
