A: The main cause of rapid population growth is when there are more births than there are deaths, which is referred to as a natural increase. Other causes of ... Full Answer >
Spanish flu (1918-1919). The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more people than the World War I, at somewhere between 20 and 40 million people. It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. Known as Spanish Flu or La Grippe the influenza of 1918-1920 was a global disaster.
Epidemics throughout history. The current epidemic in West Africa is the largest Ebola outbreak on record. In less than a year, the virus has killed more than 4,000 people. The CDC has said that in a worst-case scenario the disease could infect as many as 1.4 million people by January. If the current death rate holds steady around 70%, that could mean up to 980,000 by next year. See how this epidemic compares with others throughout history.