list of the most deadly diseases
Below are short explanations of these five deadly diseases and what to expect if you or a family member develop one. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection most often found in the lungs, but it can also be found in the lymphatic system and other vital organs. TB bacteria cause death of tissue in body organs they infect.
Deadly Diseases: 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.
In 1984, scientists identified the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, as the cause of AIDS. That same year the deadly disease killed more than 5,500 people in the United States. Today more than 35 million people around the world are living with an HIV infection. More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since the first cases were reported.