Estos son los 10 virus más peligrosos del mundo – DW.com

A detailed analysis of global viral threats identifies the Marburg virus as the most dangerous pathogen currently known to science, characterized by an extremely high mortality rate and severe physiological impact.

According to reporting from DW, the Marburg virus is a hemorrhagic fever virus that causes convulsions and hemorrhaging across the skin, internal organs, and mucous membranes. The virus carries a mortality rate of 90 percent.

The virus was first identified in 1967 in the German city of Marburg, located along the Lahn River. The initial outbreak was linked to laboratory work involving green monkeys sourced from Uganda.

The Complexity of Ebola Strains

Ebola represents another critical threat, with six recognized strains. Most of these strains are named after the African regions where they were first identified: Zaire, Sudan, Bundibugyo, Bombali, and the Taï National Park.

One notable exception is the Reston Ebola virus. This strain was first detected in 1989 at a primate center in Reston, Virginia, in the United States.

Among these, the Zaire Ebola species is the most lethal. While mortality rates vary significantly between different outbreaks, some have reached as high as 90 percent.

Scientific research suggests that Philippine flying foxes, a type of fruit bat, likely introduced the Zaire Ebola virus into urban environments.

Rodent-Borne Pathogens and Hantavirus

Hantaviruses comprise several types of viruses primarily found in rodent populations. A distinct characteristic of these pathogens is that each species of rodent serves as a carrier for a single, unique species of hantavirus.

The virus is named after a river where United States soldiers are believed to have first become infected during the Korean War in 1950.

Infection by hantaviruses can lead to two primary clinical conditions: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS).

Avian Influenza and Other High-Risk Viruses

Avian influenza strains are highlighted for their potential to cause widespread alarm due to their high lethality. The mortality rate for these strains is cited at 70 percent.

Beyond these four primary threats, other dangerous viruses active in the global landscape include:

• Lassa virus
• Junín virus
• Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

These pathogens, particularly those causing hemorrhagic fevers, remain a central focus for public health monitoring due to their high fatality rates and the severity of the symptoms they induce in human hosts.