1. Virus:
Most diseases caused by viruses, from the flu to COVID-19, have been controlled by using vaccines and antiviral drugs. Thanks to these developments, we can prevent infections and help patients recover. However, we still have a long way to go to defeat this enemy.
For example, the flu is one of the most common viruses, causing millions of infections every year. Influenza A and B are usually the causes of annual outbreaks, while C and D are less common and often cause mild symptoms. The flu virus spreads quickly from person to person and can cause symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, and runny nose. Although most cases recover on their own after a week, the flu can become severe and fatal, especially for those with weakened immune systems.
The flu has caused many major pandemics in history, including the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, one of the deadliest pandemics in history, killing millions of people worldwide. Although there has been progress in controlling the flu, there is still a risk from this virus continuously mutating and posing a threat of new pandemics.
Similarly, SARS-CoV-2 - the virus that causes COVID-19 - has spread globally since late 2019, infecting millions of people and causing millions of deaths. COVID-19 causes symptoms such as runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, and can be fatal, especially for those with underlying health conditions.
In both cases, vaccination and adherence to preventive measures are the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the virus and protect public health.
Part of the problem is the lack of vaccines at that time, and doctors also faced a shortage of antibiotics to treat acute infections, similar to the flu and SARS-CoV-2 viruses, which pose a danger to human immune systems. In recent years, epidemics have spread, and like a dream, people have had to follow measures such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and practicing good hygiene. The sunny days after the rainy days only make us appreciate them more.
2. Immune system:
HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, causing damage and impairing the ability to cope with disease-causing agents, leading to death if not treated. In 1990, a powerful antiviral drug was developed, helping to prolong life and improve the quality of life for those infected. However, despite advances in treatment, HIV remains a major issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries. As of 2020, there have been hundreds of thousands of HIV-related deaths worldwide, and Vietnam is no exception.
In Vietnam, HIV is not only a problem for drug users or sex workers but also spreads through unsafe behaviors, accounting for 74.3% of infections, with a large proportion being among men who have sex with men. Therefore, protecting oneself by using protection correctly is crucial. However, there is hope as two people were cured of this disease in early 2020, hoping that in the future, humans can control and eliminate this virus.
In 1976, the first outbreak of Ebola was recorded in Sudan and Congo, causing a widespread epidemic caused by the Ebola virus. This virus transfers from wild animals to humans and spreads in the human community through blood or body fluids, as well as tissues of infected humans or animals. Different strains of the Ebola virus have varying levels of danger, with some strains causing mild symptoms but others, such as the Boni bugio strain, having a death rate of up to 50%, while the Zaire strain has a death rate of up to 71%.
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 was considered the largest and most complex outbreak to date. The World Health Organization reported a total of 10,141 suspected cases of Ebola virus infection, including 4,922 deaths. Fortunately, at the present time, the Ebola outbreak has been gradually brought under control.
3. Agents:
Mosquitoes are often seen as annoying and hated agents, and people usually swat them whenever they hear buzzing. However, mosquitoes are only intermediate disease vectors, while the dengue virus is the actual cause of dengue fever that is affecting millions of people worldwide. This virus first appeared in the 1950s in the Philippines and Thailand, then spread across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
Vietnam, located in a high-risk area for this disease, often sees an increase in infections during the rainy season. Dengue fever can affect both adults and children, with symptoms such as dengue fever and hemorrhagic fever, which can lead to shock, decreased blood circulation, and organ failure. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, the disease can lead to death. Although the mortality rate of dengue fever is lower than some other viruses, this type has a strong infectivity and a high mutation rate, causing variants that can lead to diseases similar to Ebola with a death rate of up to 20%.
If left untreated, I once had dengue fever and truly, it made me so exhausted that I couldn't even express it. I am 1.75m tall and weigh about 80kg, although I have a slender figure, but for over half a month lying in bed, I couldn't stand up, couldn't move, couldn't eat, with a fever lasting for several days. When admitted to the hospital, the doctors had no specific treatment for the disease, only treating the symptoms. Speaking of discomfort and pain, between the flu and dengue fever, I find that having the flu or COVID is more bearable than dengue fever. Measles and chickenpox viruses also cause different symptoms.
Chickenpox, also known as variola, is an infectious disease caused by the variola virus, characterized by rash and high mortality rates. When the virus attacks, patients usually develop the disease from 7 to 17 days. The initial symptoms usually include high fever, headache, back pain, fatigue, and nausea. Then, rash spots will appear on the skin, including the face, hands, and arms, spreading all over the body into small water blisters. After about 8 to 9 days, these blisters will crust over and leave scars. Smallpox has existed for about 10,000 years, and before the vaccine was available, it caused many disasters, killing a large part of the world's population.
Rabies, an acute viral infection of the central nervous system, is usually transmitted from animals to humans through secretions such as saliva. Despite having a vaccine, the disease still exists and is a serious problem in many countries, including Vietnam.
4. Power:
In ancient times, when the world was still shrouded in mystery and challenges from nature, humans faced an extremely great challenge, the appearance of viruses capable of transforming their living environment back to the Stone Age. These tiny but extremely dangerous creatures challenged the power of humans, forcing them to face the risk of great loss and find ways to survive through battles against diseases.
For a long time, even when humans had not evolved into their current form, we were entangled in a battle against dangerous disease-causing agents. Viruses, invisible factors but with terrible power, constantly mutate and create outbreaks threatening human life.
Viruses are the main cause of many dangerous diseases, from common illnesses like the cold, flu to more severe infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, Spanish flu, or the recent COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, viruses continuously change their genetic makeup, creating new strains that can attack the human immune system and cause powerful disease outbreaks.
Among the viruses that cause pandemics, some are particularly dangerous, such as the Ebola virus, a virus that triggers terrifying outbreaks, causing thousands of people to die in a cruel manner. In 1976, the first outbreak of the Ebola virus appeared in Sudan and Congo, shaking the world with its rapid spread and high death rate.
Not only Ebola virus, but also other viruses like the flu virus, HIV virus, and most recently the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has almost frozen the world, with millions of people worldwide facing the risk of infection and death.
Looking back at history, it can be seen that virus pandemics have had extremely serious consequences for humans. The Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, for example, claimed the lives of millions of people, causing one of the greatest disasters in human history.
With advances in medical research and development, humans have found preventive and treatment measures for these dangerous viruses. The development and use of vaccines, along with adherence to preventive measures and disease control, play a crucial role in reducing the risk of infection and death.
However, the threat from viruses still looms over humans. The ability of viruses to change their genetic makeup, the emergence of new strains, and their rapid spread in today's world are significant challenges to human resistance.
In the future, research and development of new preventive and treatment measures will continue to be a top priority. Only through global cooperation and efforts can humans cope with and defeat these dangerous viruses, and maintain our health and survival in this challenging era.