Year

Event

Virus and

Deaths/

Comments

Ref.

Genome

millions

1918-20

Spanish flu

Influenza A

50M

500M people estimated to

[8-10]

Pandemic

H1N1

have been infected at the time.

(RNA)

1957-58

Asian flu

Influenza A

Approx.

The toll varies

[8,9]

pandemic

H2N2

1M

(RNA)

1968-70

Hong Kong flu

Influenza A

1M

-

[8,9]

pandemic

H3N2

(RNA)

1981-

AIDS

HIV

25-35M

Current estimates reveal 300K

[8,9,11]

present

(RNA)

deaths/year

2002-03

SARS

SARS-CoV

<1K

Affected at least 8,000 people

[8,9,12]

(RNA)

in 26 countries.

2009-10

Swine flu

Novel

200K

Only deaths caused by

[8,9,13,14]

H1N1

respiratory diseases have been

Influenza A

counted. If other factors such

(RNA)

as, deaths by opportunistic