Case fatality rate

In epidemiology, case fatality (CF) or fatality rate, is the ratio of deaths within a designated population of people with a particular condition, over a certain period of time. An example of a fatality rate would be 9 deaths per 10,000 people at risk per year. This means that within a given year, out of 10,000 people formally diagnosed with a disease, 9 died.

The rate for the Spanish flu was >2.5%,[1] about 0.1% for the Asian and Hong Kong flus,[2] and <0.1% for other influenza pandemics.[1]

Zaïre Ebola Virus is among the deadliest viruses with a case fatality rate of roughly 90%.[3] Rabies, if contracted by an unvaccinated individual who does not seek prophylactic treatment, is also an extremely deadly virus, with a case fatality rate approaching 100%.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Taubenberger, Jeffery K.; David M. Morens† (January 2006). "1918 influenza: the mother of all pandemics". Emerging Infectious Diseases (Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 12 (1). ISSN 1080-6059. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no01/05-0979.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
  2. ^ Li, F C K; B C K Choi, T Sly, A W P Pak (June 2008). "Finding the real case-fatality rate of H5N1 avian influenza". Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 62 (6): 555–559. doi:10.1136/jech.2007.064030. ISSN 0143-005X. PMID 18477756. http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/62/6/555. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 
  3. ^ King, John W (April 2, 2008). "Ebola Virus". eMedicine. WebMd. http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic626.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-06. 

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