Human infectious diseases may be characterized by their case fatality rate (CFR), the proportion of people diagnosed with a disease who die from it (cf. mortality rate). It should not be confused with the infection fatality rate (IFR), the estimated proportion of people infected by a disease-causing agent, including asymptomatic and undiagnosed infections, who die from the disease. IFR cannot be higher than the CFR and is often much lower, but is also much harder to calculate. This data is based on optimally treated patients and excludes isolated cases or minor outbreaks, unless otherwise indicated. +KeyPathogen typeTreatment stage Viral disease No treatment or cure Bacterial disease No cure Amoebic disease Unvaccinated Fungal disease Untreated Parasitic disease Vaccinated/treated Prion Co-infection Chromosomal Disease Unknown non-Prion Molecule or Chemical Element Symptomatic DiseaseTypeTreatment stageCFR Notes Refs. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathyPrion No treatment and no cure100% Includes Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and all its variants, fatal insomnia, kuru, Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker syndrome, Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy and others.No cases of survival, invariably fatal. Rabies Viral Unvaccinated and untreated ≈100% Preventable with vaccine and PEP (dropped to near 0% rate) but once symptoms manifest, there is no cure and the CFR is greater than 99%. 4 known people who survived were simply vaccinated too late, after symptoms started; more recently, at least 3 individuals have survived after being placed in a medically induced coma, however, this protocol has since been disputed. Pneumonic plagueBacterial Unvaccinated and untreated ≈100% The most virulent among the three forms of plague, hypothesised to be the Black Death. Victims of the Black Death who vomited blood occasionally survived, such as the chronicler Marcha di Marco Battagli. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitisViral Untreated≈100%Rare form of a measles infection, might be treatable if the disease hasn't progressed past Stage 1. African trypanosomiasisParasitic (protozoan) Untreated >99%Without treatment, this disease is nearly invariably fatal due to its parasitic and extremely debilitating nature. Visceral leishmaniasisParasitic (protozoan) Untreated >99% World Health Organization, (2013) "Health Topics: Leishmaniasis." NaegleriasisAmoebic with ICU treatment ≈98.5% Caused by the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, with the nickname brain eating amoeba. From 1962 to 2022, there have been 157 recorded cases of this infection within the United States, only 4 of those 157 individuals survived the disease. A combination of various antifungal, antibacterial and antiemetic drugs have shown effectiveness in survivors. GlandersBacterial Untreated 95% The rate drops significantly to >50% with treatment. Granulomatous amoebic encephalitisAmoebic No cure 90% 150 cases worldwide, only < 10 survivors have been identified.HIV/AIDSViral Untreated 99% Anthrax, pulmonaryBacterial Unvaccinated and untreated 85% Early treatments lower the CFR to 45% as seen in the 2001 AMERITHRAX letter attacks.Monoclonal antibodies (Obilotoxaximab & Raxibacumab) could lower this further.Lujo virusViral80%B virusViral Untreated ≈80%B virus infection of humans is extremely rare. As of 2020, there have been 50 documented cases of human B virus infection since the identification of the virus in 1932, 21 of which led to death. Early treatment including aciclovir can improve prognosis. Aspergillosis, invasive pulmonary formFungal Opportunistic w/COPD, Tuberculosis and Immuno-compromised [50–90]% Amoebic dysenteryAmoebicUntreated55-88%Also known as amoebiasis, it is caused by the parasitic amoeba Entamoeba histolytica. Treated with Secnidazole, tinidazole, and metronidazole. EbolaViral Unvaccinated and untreated [25–90]% The rate averages out at 50% for all variants of ebolaviruses, among which the one by EBOV is the deadliest in terms of both the fatality and morbidity rates, with fatalities ranging between 42% and 90%. Prognosis improved by early supportive treatments as seen in the West African epidemic and the Kivu outbreak. Marburg virus disease – all outbreaks combinedViral Untreated [23–90]% 23% in 1967 when it was first identified and 90% in 2004-2005 when the worst outbreak of the disease occurred. Galidesivir has shown promise in treating Filoviridae.Smallpox Variola majorViral Untreated and Unvaccinated [9.3-100]% Eradicated. The overall fatality rate of all forms was 30%, which dropped significantly to 10% with effective treatments and 3% with vaccination. Around 90% of all the cases were the ordinary form whose untreated/unvaccinated rate was between 9.3 (normal) to 62% (confluent rashes); about 2% of the cases developed into the haemorrhagic form which approached 100% untreated fatality rate. Nipah virusViral Untreated[40-75]%This rate can vary by outbreak depending on local capabilities for epidemiological surveillance and clinical management. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1Viral ≈53%The deadliest form of avian flu in humans.Mucormycosis (Black fungus disease)Fungal [40–80]% Tularemia, pneumonicBacterial Untreated ≤ 60% Cryptococcal meningitisFungal Co-infection with HIV [40–60]%6 month mortality is ≥ 60% with fluconazole-based therapy and 40% with amphotericin-based therapy in research studies in low and middle income countries. Anthrax, gastrointestinalBacterial Unvaccinated and untreated > 50% Tetanus, GeneralizedBacterial Unvaccinated and untreated 50%CFR drops to [10–20]% with effective treatment.Tuberculosis, HIV NegativeBacterial Vaccinated 43% Vaccines have been developed but have been frequently dismissed for having received controversial and improper testing on African populations. Septicemic plagueBacterial Unvaccinated and untreated [30–50]% BaylisascariasisParasitic (helminthous) ≈40% With occurrence of Neural Larva Migrans; early, aggressive treatment necessary for survival, but only 2 full recoveries from NLM ever documented. MelioidosisBacterial Untreated10-60%Caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is treated with antibiotics. Hantavirus infectionViral 36%Ribavirin may be a drug for HPS and HFRS but its effectiveness remains unknown, still, spontaneous recovery is possible with supportive treatment.Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)Viral 34%Galidesivir has shown promise in treating Coronaviridae.Eastern equine encephalitisViral ≈33% Bubonic plagueBacterial Unvaccinated and untreated [5–60]% Anthrax, gastrointestinal, oropharyngeal typeBacterial [10–50]% Varicella (chickenpox), in newbornsViral Untreated ≈30% Where the mothers develop the disease between 5 days prior to, or 2 days after delivery.Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF)Viral Untreated 26% Dengue haemorrhagic fever is also known as severe dengue. Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) Viral No cure [15–30]% No specific treatment; usually involves supportive care.MRSABacterialUntreated ≈22%rates can reach 60%. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS)Viral Untreated ≈21%Galidesivir has shown promise in treating Bunyavirales. Tularemia, typhoidalBacterial Untreated [3–35]% LeptospirosisBacterial <[5–30]% Meningococcal diseaseBacterial Unvaccinated and untreated [10–20]% Typhoid feverBacterial Unvaccinated and untreated [10–20]%LegionellosisBacterial ≈15%Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)Viral 11%Galidesivir has shown promise in treating Coronaviridae.Down syndromeChromosomal disease No cure≈10% infant mortality rateCauses distinct facial features, muscle weakness, and intellectual disabilityIntestinal capillariasisParasitic (helminthous) Untreated ≈10%Visceral leishmaniasisParasitic (protozoan) ≈10%BotulismBacterial toxin Treated < 10% Untreated foodborne botulism is thought to be ≈50%.Diphtheria, respiratoryBacterial Unvaccinated and untreated ≈[5-10]%Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (7 February 2011) "Diphtheria." Yellow feverViral Unvaccinated 7.5% Hib meningitis in young childrenBacterial Untreated3-6%Caused by bacterium Haemophilus influenzae type B, is treated with antibiotics. Pertussis (whooping cough), infants in developing countriesBacterial Unvaccinated ≈3.7% Smallpox, Variola majorViral Vaccinated 3% Eradicated. The overall fatality rate of all forms was 30%, which dropped significantly to 10% with effective treatments and 3% with vaccination. Around 90% of all the cases were the ordinary form whose untreated/unvaccinated rate was between 9.3 (normal) to 62% (confluent rashes); about 2% of the cases developed into the haemorrhagic form which approached 100% untreated fatality rate. Cholera, in AfricaBacterial ≈[2–3]% With proper treatment, may be less than 1%, while without treatment may reach 50%. 1918 (Spanish) fluViral Treated [2.5-9.7]% varies with population, up to 22% in Western Samoa. AngiostrongyliasisParasitic (helminthous) ≈2.4%From Hawaiian cases. Measles (rubeola), in developing countriesViral Unvaccinated ≈[1–3]% May reach [10–30]% in some localities. BrucellosisBacterial Untreated ≤ 2% Hepatitis A, adults > 50 years oldViral Unvaccinated ≈1.8% Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Viral Unvaccinated & 0.88%Depends largely on the age group of the person, earlier strains of COVID-19 had higher CFR of around 1%. Lassa feverViral Treated ≈1% 15% in hospitalized patients; higher in some epidemics. Mumps encephalitisViral Unvaccinated ≈1% Pertussis (whooping cough), children in developing countriesBacterial Unvaccinated ≈1% For children 1–4 years old. Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE)Viral < 1% Anthrax, cutaneousBacterial < 1% Seasonal Influenza, WorldwideViral Largely unvaccinated,Treated< 0.1–0.5% Depends largely on the age group of the people. MalariaParasitic (protozoan) ≈0.3% Smallpox, Variola minorViral Unvaccinated 0.1-0.3% Eradicated. The overall fatality rate of all forms was 30%, which dropped significantly to 10% with effective treatments and 3% with vaccination. Around 90% of all the cases were the ordinary form whose untreated/unvaccinated rate was between 9.3 (normal) to 62% (confluent rashes); about 2% of the cases developed into the haemorrhagic form which approached 100% untreated fatality rate. Hepatitis AViral Unvaccinated [0.1–0.3]% PolioViral Without artificial breathing support ≈0.1% 0.5% of all infected become paralysed. Of those, about [10–20]% die.Fatality rates vary by age: 2–5% for children, and up to 15–30% for adults. .MpoxViralUntreated0.1-10%Clade I is more virulent than clade II, with a 5-10% mortality rate Asian (1956–58) fluViral ≈0.1% Hong Kong (1968–69) fluViral ≈0.1% Influenza A, typical pandemicsViral < 0.1% Varicella (chickenpox), adultsViral Unvaccinated 0.02% Hand, foot and mouth disease, children < 5 years oldViral 0.01% Varicella (chickenpox), childrenViral Unvaccinated 0.001%
See also Lists of diseases List of infectious diseases List of causes of death by rate List of notifiable diseases – diseases that should be reported to public health officials.
References