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1. Marburg virus
The most dangerous virus is the Marburg virus. It is named after a small, idyllic town on the banks of the Lahn River, but that has nothing to do with the disease itself. Marburg virus is a hemorrhagic fever virus. Like Ebola, the Marburg virus causes seizures and hemorrhages in the mucous membranes, skin and organs. It has a 90 percent mortality rate.
2. Ebola
There are five strains of the Ebola virus, each named after countries and regions in Africa: Zaire, Sudan, Tai Forest, Bundibugyo and Reston. The Zaire Ebola virus is the deadliest, with a 90 percent mortality rate. It is the strain currently spreading through Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and beyond. Scientists say flying foxes probably brought the Ebola virus from Zaire to the cities.
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3. Hantavirus
Hantavirus describes several types of viruses. It is named after a river where American soldiers were first thought to have been infected with hantavirus, during the Korean War in 1950. Symptoms include lung disease, fever and kidney failure.
4. Bird flu virus
The various strains of bird flu regularly cause panic, which is perhaps justified because the mortality rate is 70 percent. But in fact, the risk of contracting the H5N1 strain, one of the best known, is quite low. It can only be infected through direct contact with poultry. This is said to explain why most cases appear in Asia, where people often live near chickens.
5. Lassa Virus
A nurse in Nigeria was the first person infected with the Lassa virus. The virus is transmitted by rodents. Cases can be endemic, meaning the virus occurs in a specific region, such as West Africa, and can reappear there at any time. Scientists estimate that 15 percent of rodents in West Africa carry the virus.
6. Junín Virus
Junín virus is associated with Argentine hemorrhagic fever. People infected with the virus suffer tissue inflammation, sepsis and skin bleeding. The problem is that the symptoms can seem so common that the disease is rarely detected or identified in the first instance.
7. Crimean-Congo fever
The Crimean-Congo fever virus is transmitted by ticks. It is similar to the Ebola and Marburg viruses in the way it progresses. During the first few days of infection, patients experience pin-sized hemorrhages in the face, mouth, and pharynx.
8. The Machupo virus
The Machupo virus is associated with Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, also known as black typhus. The infection causes high fever, accompanied by heavy bleeding. It progresses similar to the Junín virus. The virus can be transmitted from person to person and is often carried by rodents.
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9. Kyasanur Forest Virus (KFD)
Scientists discovered Kyasanur forest virus (KFD) in the forests of the southwestern coast of India in 1955. It is transmitted by ticks, but scientists say it is difficult to determine who is the carrier. It is assumed that rats, birds and wild boars could be guests. People infected with the virus suffer high fever, severe headaches and muscle pain that can cause bleeding.
10. Dengue fever
Dengue is a constant threat. If you are planning a vacation in the tropics, learn about dengue fever. Transmitted by mosquitoes, dengue affects between 50 and 100 million people a year in popular tourist destinations such as Thailand and India. But it is a bigger problem for the two billion people who live in areas threatened by dengue.