The Worst Epidemics Throughout History

AIDS Epidemic

AIDS is one of the worst epidemics that is still happening to this day. Since it was first recognized, AIDS has killed almost 35 million victims. AIDS starts as the virus HIV, which most likely has its roots in a chimpanzee virus that spread to people in West Africa. About 64% of the 40 million with HIV reside in sub-Saharan Africa. It has been considered a pandemic since the 20th century.

The More You Know

War pigs were used in ancient warfare to counter against war elephants, which feared the pigs (and their squeals) and would bolt. War pigs were sometimes lit on fire to enhance this effect.
In 1966 and 1967, soldiers testing Agent Orange in Canada were told the chemical was completely safe and sprayed it on each other to cool off.
The fastest gust of wind ever recorded on Earth was 253 miles per hour.
Mysterious sand dune holes baffled Indiana for years.

Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.