The top 10 most costly viruses
In the last two decades, the world has witnessed the emergence of some devastating viruses. Here is a list of the top 10 most costly viruses:
1. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
RSV is a respiratory virus that primarily affects infants and young children. It is the leading cause of pneumonia in children under the age of five. Each year, RSV causes nearly 200,000 deaths in young children globally. In the United States, RSV is responsible for more than $1 billion in hospital costs each year.
2. Norovirus
Norovirus is a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus. It is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the world. Each year, norovirus causes an estimated 21 million cases of diarrhea and vomiting and 70,000 deaths. In the United States, norovirus costs approximately $2 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity each year.
3. Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver that can lead to chronic liver disease. It is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplants in the United States. Each year, hepatitis C costs the US healthcare system an estimated $6.5 billion.
4. HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS is a viral infection that attacks the body’s immune system. It is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa and the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. HIV/AIDS currently costs the world $22 billion each year in medical care and lost productivity.
5. influenza
Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory virus that causes severe respiratory illness in people of all ages. Each year, influenza causes an estimated 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths globally. In the United States, influenza costs approximately $3.1 billion in hospitalizations and $10.4 billion in lost productivity each year.
6. SARS
SARS is a viral respiratory illness that emerged in Asia in 2002. It quickly spread to more than two dozen countries and resulted in more than 8,000 cases and 800 deaths. SARS cost the global economy an estimated $40 billion in lost productivity.
7. West Nile virus
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause serious neurological illness. It was first identified in Africa in 1937 and has since spread to Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Australia. West Nile virus costs the United States approximately $119 million each year in medical expenses and lost productivity.
8. dengue fever
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness that is endemic in many tropical and subtropical countries. It is the leading cause of fever in children in developing countries. Dengue fever currently costs the world $2.5 billion each year in medical care and lost productivity.
9. Zika virus
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that is spreading rapidly through the Americas. It is associated with severe birth defects and is currently causing a public health emergency in Brazil. Zika virus is expected to cost the world $3.5 billion this year in medical care and lost productivity.
10. Ebola virus
Ebola virus is a severe, often fatal illness that is spread through contact with bodily fluids. It is endemic in parts of Africa and has caused several outbreaks in recent years. The 2014 outbreak in West Africa was the largest and most costly Ebola outbreak in history, costing the world an estimated $2.2 billion..Learn more
The deadliest computer viruses
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One of the most destructive and costly computer viruses in history was the Love Bug, which first surfaced in the Philippines in May 2000. The virus, which caused an estimated $10 billion in damage worldwide, was spread via email attachments and caused infected computers to send out mass emails containing the text “I Love You” in the subject line.
Another damaging virus is the Miller-McCune virus, which was discovered in 2001. This virus was unique in that it was spread not through email attachments, but by Miller-McCune magazine articles that were posted on the internet. The virus would automatically download the magazine articles onto the victim’s computer, and then email the articles to everyone in their address book.
If left unchecked, computer viruses can quickly spread around the world and cause billions of dollars in damage. That’s why it’s important to have a good antivirus program installed on your computer, and to be vigilant about opening email attachments or clicking on links from unknown sources.
Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about what was the most dangerous computer virus. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.