All articles tagged with #fatality rate
A Visual Capitalist infographic ranks 10 deadly viruses by case fatality rate, led by rabies at nearly 100% once symptoms appear. The list highlights zoonotic origins (bats, camels, rodents) and notable hemorrhagic fevers (e.g., Ebola, Marburg), with death tolls and sources from WHO and other health authorities.
A visualization ranks ten viruses by case fatality rate, led by rabies (nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear) and including Lujo (80%), Nipah (40–75%), Hendra (57%), Ebola and Marburg (~50%), H5N1 (50%), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (10–40%), and MERS-CoV (36%). The list highlights that most deadly viruses originate in animals, with some causing highly lethal outbreaks even if infections are relatively rare.
While most infectious diseases do not have a 100% fatality rate, some rare diseases like amoebic meningitis and prion diseases are nearly always fatal. Rabies is almost entirely preventable with immediate medical care, but once symptoms appear, it is nearly 100% fatal. Advances in medicine have made previously deadly diseases more manageable, but some, like prion diseases, remain incurable and lethal.
The author reflects on their early estimation of COVID-19's fatality rate, which was based on authoritative sources and turned out to be close to the mark. They highlight that the expert consensus on the risks posed by COVID-19 was accurate, but the U.S. failed to effectively balance these risks with the costs of fighting the disease. The article discusses the costly and disruptive nature of prolonged lockdowns and the negative impact on schooling. The author suggests that misrepresentations of COVID-19's mortality rate and the difficulty of comprehending a mortality rate of under 1% may have contributed to faulty decision-making. The article also mentions Sweden's approach, which, despite initial overestimations, resulted in a successful and sustainable COVID-19 management effort.
Namibia has declared an outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) after one person died of the disease in the capital Windhoek. CCHF is a tick-borne virus that can also transmit between humans by close contact with blood or bodily fluids. It has a fatality rate of between 10% and 40%. The government has activated health emergency committees to prevent further transmission and is closely monitoring all contacts of the deceased in Gobabis and Windhoek.