Epidemics Quiz
Which epidemic was caused by a disease suspected to have been brought to North America by Christopher Columbus?
- The North American Smallpox Epidemic spanned from 1775-1782, killing over 11,000 people. The disease is believed to have been brought to North America with Christopher Columbus and his crew.
Which epidemic killed 15% of London's population?
- Dubbed as The Great Plague of London, the bubonic plague made its way to London in 1665. In just a few months, fleas carried the plague to most citizens, killing over 100,000 people. This number was about 15% of London's population.
Which epidemic ravaged North America between 1713 and 1715?
- Between 1713 and 1715, Measles ravaged a newly formed America, which was only 13 colonies at the time. It is unknown how many deaths the epidemic caused.
Which epidemic hit Philadelphia in 1793?
- In 1793, The Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic killed more than 5,000 people in mere months. The disease is carried by mosquitoes, so by winter, the numbers had decreased but not before 20,000 people fled the city in a panic.
Which epidemic ravaged Canada in 1847?
- Killing over 20,000 people, the North American Typhus Epidemic occurred in 1847. It is believed that the epidemic was mainly caused Irish people emigrating to Canada to flee the Great Famine. The disease-ridden ships were called "coffin ships."
What is the 1918 Pandemic also known as?
- The Spanish Flu, one of the deadliest in history, killed somewhere between 17 and 100 million people in the one year is ravaged the world. It is thought the virus spread as the new industrial age made transportation easier.
Which 1916 pandemic drove people to flee city centers to the countryside?
- The American Polio Epidemic of 1916 had 27,000 cases and 6,000 deaths. The disease affected mostly children and sometimes left them with permanent disabilities. The disease is close to being eradicated since a vaccine was discovered.
Which epidemic hit East Africa between 2014 and 2016?
- The West African Ebola Epidemic ravaged western Africa between 2014 and 2016. There were 28,600 cases and over 11,000 deaths. As of 2020, there is still no cure for Ebola.
Which epidemic (as of 2020) is currently affecting South Africa?
- The Zika Virus Epidemic has been occurring in South America since 2015. Zika is transmitted mostly by mosquitoes, and while it is fairly harmless to adults and children, it can affect unborn babies and infants.
Which pandemic swept the world in 2009?
- In 2009, the Swine Flu Pandemic was caused by a new strain of H1N1. In just one year, over 1.4 billion people were infected worldwide. A vaccine for this strain of H1N1 is now in all annual flu shots.
