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The Most Dangerous Diseases You Can Get on Earth

The Most Dangerous Diseases You Can Get on Earth

Humans have been fighting disease since long before our genus evolved into Homo sapiens. The most recent example is COVID-19. Though the latest variant of the virus that causes the disease is very contagious, its fatality rate is relatively low in comparison with pathogens. (Here’s how COVID fatalities compare with those of other diseases.)

Antibiotics, vaccines, and antiviral drugs have been effective in preventing infections from spreading widely. Smallpox, for example, has been eradicated. However, as humans and our immune systems evolve, so do deadly pathogens. Some, such as Ebola, have jumped from animals to humans in recent decades, causing large outbreaks.

To determine the deadliest pathogens on Earth, 24/7 Tempo ranked viruses, bacteria, amoebas, and other potentially lethal pathogens according to their fatality rates in humans using information from Live Science and CBS News. Diseases with causes that are yet to be determined were not considered.

The mortality rate for any disease varies depending on access to vaccines and medical help. Some of these pathogens on the list – such as MERS or tuberculosis – spread from person to person. Others come from infected substances – even water – or from animals or microscopic organisms. (These are the 20 worst epidemics and pandemics in history.)

Source: Chinnapong / iStock via Getty Images

22. Tuberculosis
> Mortality rate: 15.0%
> Type of pathogen: Bacteria

Source: Dr_Microbe / Getty Images

22. Meningococcal meningitis
> Mortality rate: 15.0%
> Type of pathogen: Bacteria

Source: Mur-Al / iStock via Getty Images

17. Smallpox
> Mortality rate: 30.0%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: niaid / Flickr

17. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
> Mortality rate: 30.0%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: TT / Getty Images

17. Eastern equine encephalitis
> Mortality rate: 30.0%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

17. Invasive listeria
> Mortality rate: 30.0%
> Type of pathogen: Bacteria

Source: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images News via Getty Images

17. Staphylococcus aureus
> Mortality rate: 30.0%
> Type of pathogen: Bacteria

Source: pulmonary_pathology / Flickr

16. Invasive aspergillosis
> Mortality rate: 30.2%
> Type of pathogen: Fungus

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

15. Vibrio illness
> Mortality rate: 34.2%
> Type of pathogen: Bacteria

Source: Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images News via Getty Images

14. MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)
> Mortality rate: 34.4%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: poromaa / Flickr

13. Hantavirus
> Mortality rate: 36.0%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

12. Baylisascariasis
> Mortality rate: 38.5%
> Type of pathogen: Parasite

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

11. Glanders
> Mortality rate: 40.0%
> Type of pathogen: Bacteria

Source: Quyet Le / Wikimedia Commons

10. Monkey B Virus
> Mortality rate: 42.0%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: euthman / Flickr

9. African trypanosomiasis
> Mortality rate: 42.5%
> Type of pathogen: Parasite

Source: niaid / Flickr

7. Marburg virus
> Mortality rate: 50.0%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images

7. Ebola virus
> Mortality rate: 50.0%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: CSIRO / Wikimedia Commons

6. Hendra virus
> Mortality rate: 57.0%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: Matt Cardy / Getty Images News via Getty Images

5. Bird flu
> Mortality rate: 60.0%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: niaid / Flickr

4. Nipah virus
> Mortality rate: 75.0%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

Source: hockeyholic / Flickr

3. Naegleria fowleri (brain-eating amoeba)
> Mortality rate: 95.0%
> Type of pathogen: Amoeba

Source: Yamanouchi / Wikimedia Commons

2. Balamuthia encephalitis
> Mortality rate: 98.0%
> Type of pathogen: Amoeba

Source: sestovic / E+ via Getty Images

1. Rabies
> Mortality rate: 99.9%
> Type of pathogen: Virus

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