Home > Infectious disease in the 20th century
Many infectious diseases that killed by the millions were greatly reduced in the 20th century, with one notable achievement being the eradication of smallpox, and considerable progress being made toward the eradication of polio (polio eradication being expected to be completed within the first decade of the 21st century) and Guinea Worm Disease (expected to be eliminated everywhere by 2005).Other diseases, such as diphtheria, typhoid fever, tuberculosis and whooping cough were greatly reduced throughout the world due to childhood immunisation programs, improved sanitation, and the use of antibiotics.
Malaria, even though easily treatable, is still a major killer in poor countries.
In the United States the death rate from pneumonia and influenzaInfluenza (or as it is commonly known, the flu is a contagious disease caused by an RNA virus of the orthomyxoviridae family. The name comes from the old medical belief in unfavourable astrological influences as the cause of the disease. Recent developmen fell 93% in the 20th century; bronchitisBronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi of the lungs, that causes the cilia of the bronchial epithelial cells to stop functioning. Like many disorders, bronchitis can be acute (short-term), or chronic (long-lasting). Chronic bronchitis is a problem c was once responsible for 3% of deaths in America - that figure has fallen to nearly one-tenth of 1%.
Two major pandemicsA pandemic or global epidemic is a disease that affects people or animals over an extensive geographical area (from Greek pan all + demos people). Technically speaking it should cover the whole globe and affect everyone. Common killers and pandemics Note occurred in the 20th century: an outbreak of a severe strain of influenza (the " Spanish FluThe Spanish Flu (also known as the Great Influenza Pandemic the 1918 Flu Epidemic and La Gripe was an unusually severe and deadly strain of influenza, a viral infectious disease, that killed some 25 million to 40 million people (possibly significantly mor") which killed some 25 million or more people in 1918Events January January 8 President Woodrow Wilson announces his " Fourteen Points" for the aftermath of World War I. February February 3 The Twin Peaks Tunnel begins service in San Francisco as the longest streetcar tunnel in the world (11,920 feet long).- 1919Events January January 1 Edsel Ford succeeds his father as head of the Ford Motor Company January 5 Spartacist uprising Socialist demonstrations in Berlin turn into attempted communist revolution with Spartacist League in the forefront January 9 Spartacus, and the appearance of AIDSAIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome sometimes written Aids is a human disease characterized by progressive destruction of the body's immune system. It is widely accepted that AIDS results from infection with HIV in the 1980sMillennia: 1st millennium 2nd millennium 3rd millennium Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s Years: 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Events and trends on. AIDS is transmitted by a virus, and viral diseases can usually only be overcome by vaccination. An effective AIDS vaccine has eluded researchers so far. Anti-viral drugs have been developed, but they are too expensive for most people suffering from AIDS.
A concern is the appearance of antibiotic-resistant strains of infectious organisms. It is believed that the overuse of antibiotics, including their use in animal husbandry, contributes to this development.
