I was listening to the news this morning about the West Nile virus's mostly ignored spread through bird populations in the U.S. (and its more frequently noted appearance in humans), and it brought to mind this question.
Within recorded human history, in terms of numbers of people killed, the bubonic plague epidemic in Europe and Asia in the 14th century is estimated as the most destructive, killing around 75 million people in about 4 years.
By the same standards, when was the second worst epidemic recorded, and what was the disease?
Absolutely no Googling or phone calls to the CDC. The winner receives a packet of antibacterial handi-wipes.
Posted by BT at August 23, 2002 09:38 AMThe influenza pandemic of 1918?
Posted by: KF on August 23, 2002 10:24 AMThat would have been my first guess too.
But since it has been cruelly snatched from me:
AIDS, right now?
Polio, mid-20th century?
Cooties, third grade?
Whoops, I'm not posting from home.
The above is from Gavin.
It's cooties, of course, cooties! Known to every school-child, this most mysterious of germs ruthlessly preys on the weak, the socially awkward, and those who reveal that they like the opposite sex.
Of course, it's influenza, which killed upwards of 21 million right after the war. Well done, Kathleen. Another one of those that I thought might tantalize for at least a few minutes. My other idea was yet another guess-the-19th-C.-invention question, and who needs that?
Posted by: BT on August 23, 2002 10:40 AMBy the way, all, I feel compelled to mention that the reason Mr. Edwards is not writing from home is that he is ensconced at Youth Culture Central, writing banter to be delivered at the next Youth Culture Televisual Exhibition and Pageant. And while busy fashioning words for the mouths of pop's puppet-potentates, he yet has time for this. I'm honored.
Posted by: BT on August 23, 2002 10:46 AMLet the celebration begin: it's my birthday, I'm officially 35, and I've started the day with a glorious victory for all the forces of west-coast no-longer-in-their-early-thirties.
[insert funky little dance of joy here]
I refuse to succumb to my sneaking sense that this victory is tainted by any ease of question.
Posted by: KF on August 23, 2002 10:48 AMNo taint! Simply my egocentric desire to see the contest stretch out ad infinitum -- and my realization that the erudition of the contestants means that I can't count on same.
And many happy returns, Kathleen! And might I suggest to all here that if you haven't checked out the far more sophisticated content of Kathleen's web-spot, now is the time.
(It's appropriate, by the way, that I first got my attention drawn to the flu's outbreak reading, years ago, the introduction to Pynchon's Slow Learner collection -- a connection that might seem fortuitous given KF's area of study.)
Posted by: BT on August 23, 2002 11:24 AMOh, you should hear the heated debates we have as to whether we're writing banter or patter. It gets ugly sometimes.
(And happy birthday!)
Posted by: Gavin on August 23, 2002 11:24 AMSmallpox. South and North American Indians. 16th-17th C.
Posted by: bootsy on August 23, 2002 11:34 AM(I would guess that killed a higher percentage of the population, but not as many people.)
Posted by: on August 23, 2002 11:50 AMThen it must've been Ennui. 'Cause lord knows it sure seems like a lot of folks've been sick of it all throughout time.
Posted by: bootsy on August 23, 2002 12:48 PMEnnui is very difficult to improv but very popular with the plebeians.
Posted by: teenidol on August 23, 2002 02:04 PM