According to the provided reference, the first deadliest disease by death toll is the Spanish flu.
Here's a breakdown of the deadliest epidemics and pandemics, based on the reference:
| Rank | Epidemics/Pandemics | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish flu | 1918–1920 |
| 2 | Plague of Justinian | 541–549 |
| 3 | Black Death | 1346–1353 |
| 4 | HIV/AIDS pandemic | 1981–present |
Key Points
- The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1920 is recorded as the deadliest, causing a significant global impact.
- While other diseases like the Plague of Justinian and Black Death were incredibly deadly, the Spanish Flu caused the largest loss of life according to the provided reference.
- The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a long-lasting ongoing health crisis, but it ranks fourth compared to the earlier outbreaks in terms of overall death count according to the reference.
This ranking is based on the total death toll from these major epidemics and pandemics. Understanding the historical impact of these diseases provides vital insights into public health and pandemic preparedness.
