human infectious disease with highest case fatality rate

Q: Which of the human infectious diseases carry the highest case fatality rate? - select one

A) HIV

B) Polio

C) Tuberculosis (TB)

D) Rabies

E) Malaria

Answer: D

Unfortunately, per the World Health Organization (WHO) report, Rabies has a fatality rate of almost 100% in humans and animals once symptoms appear. It's considered the world's deadliest virus. Said that simultaneously, it is 100% preventable through vaccination and precautions.

Though TB kills about 1.3 million people worldwide each year globally, its fatality rate is not 100% and is curable. Malaria is 100% curable after symptoms appear, and since significant progress has been made in HIV treatment, many patients have lived almost full of their lives.

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References:

1. WHO report: Link: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies (last accessed August 11, 2024)

2. Trickey A, Sabin CA, $ et al.: Life expectancy after 2015 of adults with HIV on long-term antiretroviral therapy in Europe and North America: a collaborative analysis of cohort studies. Lancet HIV. 2023 May;10(5):e295-e307. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3018(23)00028-0. Epub 2023 Mar 20. PMID: 36958365; PMCID: PMC10288029.

3. Bukundi EM, Mhimbira F, Kishimba R, Kondo Z, Moshiro C. Mortality and associated factors among adult patients on tuberculosis treatment in Tanzania: A retrospective cohort study. J Clin Tuberc Other Mycobact Dis. 2021 Jul 18;24:100263. doi: 10.1016/j.jctube.2021.100263. PMID: 34355068; PMCID: PMC8322306.