The huge influenza epidemic in 1918. Estimates go that up to 1/3 of world population (like 500 million people) got infected, and up to 50 million died because of it.
see, shit like that's the only scenario where I can visualize a big, ephemeral robed figure with a scythe, reaching out with boney hands to brush entire nations
Of course, this research leaves out half the continent. If it the countries used really accounted for 3/4 of the population at the time, I've got no idea
