It feels like humans spend every waking moment trying not to die. If you walk outside of your house, you have to avoid traffic, horrendous storms, sinkholes, and a thousand other factors that are more or less beyond your control. But if you stay inside to stay away from all of that, you have to avoid electrocution, collapsing ceilings, and a bevy of other household dangers. Simply put, staying alive is hard.
Once you duck all of those horrible accidents, you still have to worry about viral pathogens that could destroy you from the inside out. If you think you’re in the clear, pay attention to these ten outbreaks. They’ve caused mass listeria hysteria in certain parts of the United States, and they still might be waiting out there to get you.
1. Listeria
If you enjoy cantaloupe, you were probably pretty bummed out in 2011. Thanks to a contamination of melons from Jensen Farms in Holly, Colorado, 30 people died and 146 became ill during a listeria outbreak. According to the CDC, this outbreak was the worst food-borne illness in our country’s history.
Contagious: Not from person to person
Deadly: Yes
2. Legionnaires’ disease
In 1976, hundreds of people at a Legionnaire convention came down with a weird case of pneumonia caused by an air conditioning unit. Fast forward to a week ago in the Bronx, where dozens of men and women in various buildings came down with the same condition. Seven have already died, and over 60 are ill. This particular case of Legionnaires’ is still under investigation.
Contagious: No
Deadly: Yes
3. Mad cow disease
Named for the way the disease infects the brains of our bovine friends, this disease somehow made its way to the United States from the Great White North in the 2000s. Should a human being actually eat any cow-based products from an infected animal, that person is in for a deadly treat.
Contagious: Not from person to person
Deadly: Yes
4. Swine flu
This viral strain of flu originates in pigs, but it does not necessarily cause infection in humans. Humans actually create antibodies more often than not when infected with H1N1. Some people, however, are not as lucky. The disease caused thousands of deaths until the outbreak was contained in 2010.
Contagious: Kinda sorta
Deadly: Yes
5. Bird flu
Think “swine flu,” but for birds. This strain is more harmful to our feathered friends than it is to us. Humans can catch it, but you have to try really hard and/or work with birds a lot to get it.
Contagious: You need to be around an infected bird or person for a bit to catch this, but yes
Deadly: Sure
6. Ebola
Last year’s Ebola epidemic is not over. Sure, we don’t hear any cases of it coming to U.S. soil anymore, but it’s still very much a problem in other parts of the world where disease prevention is almost non-existent.
Contagious: Very much so
Deadly: Yes, if not caught in time
7. Measles
Remember when you got your measles vaccine as a kid? Probably not, since you were a wee one, but thanks to vaccinations, measles are almost a thing of the past. But recently, parents following pseudoscience and anti-government beliefs decided to avoid vaccinating their children for whatever reason. Because of this, any unvaccinated child is now a carrier of this disease, which is probably what caused recent outbreaks in places like Disneyland. (Disneyland!) All for a disease that we can protect ourselves against.
Contagious: Very much so, but not as much if you vaccinate your children!
Deadly: Yes
8. Chikungunya
Pronounced “chicken-goon-yuh,” this disease is more widespread in countries outside the States. Still, around 28 people per year are diagnosed with chikungunya, and it’s carried by mosquitos. It causes joint pain and fever, along with a few more minor symptoms. There are no known medications for chikungunya.
Contagious: Not between people
Deadly: No
9. Enterovirus
Anywhere between 10 and 15 million people are infected with non-polio enterovirus each year. It doesn’t effect most people beyond a simple fever and body ache, but infants and those with weak immune systems can experience paralysis, brain infections, and other horrible symptoms.
Contagious: Yes
Deadly: Potentially
10. Pertussis
There are outbreaks of this severe cough all the time, with thousands of deaths occurring each year in the developing world. However, vaccines and shots work wonders against it.
Contagious: Yes
Deadly: Yes
I really want to stay inside now to avoid these diseases. Sure, I have to contend with the stove, but I’ll take my chances.
