By the end of 2003, 774 people had died out of the 8,098 infected people notified to WHO. Clearly it’s worth narrowing things down a bit to better understand how to protect yourself. A small proportion of these people will go on to develop more severe symptoms such as paresthesia (burning or prickling limb pain), meningitis (infection of brain and spinal cord), limb weakness, and paralysis that may lead to permanent disability and death if the respiratory muscles are affected. Huge numbers of animals succumb to infection and die. Leprosy is still prevalent today, but usually goes by the name Hansen's disease. But the main symptom of concern was the severe breathing difficulties associated with SARS, and almost all those infected developed pneumonia. SARS is spread through close contact with infectious droplets released during a cough or sneeze. This topic has been dramatized in movies, books and TV shows. Some to look out for include sudden fever, skin rash, nose bleeds, bleeding gums, and pain behind the eyes. In the United states alone, 1040 confirmed or probable cases of plague occurred between 1900 and 2016; 80% of which were classified as the bubonic form. SARS generated widespread panic in 2003 and was caused by a previously unknown coronavirus (SARS-CoV) - the same family of viruses that causes a cold. Once it enters into the system, it’s possible for the bacteria to be harmless, only causing an infection. There are only 2 known cases of Field’s Disease in the world, named after Welsh twin sisters Catherine and Kristie Fields, which means that Field’s Disease is the rarest disease in the world. It affects fewer than one out of 1 million people. There has been a lot of attention on more common liver diseases recently, such as hepatitis, but there are more than 100 different types of liver disease. TB is a very serious disease. | iStock.com. Approximately 72% of people who catch polio show no symptoms. The list of diseases below are all infectious, all frequently fatal and all very, very unpleasant. The order reflects a mix of how deadly they are and how horrific the symptoms are. Ebola was first discovered in 1976 and bats are thought to be the most likely reservoir (natural permanent host) of the virus. However, if the body isn’t able to stop the bacteria from activating and multiplying, it can cause TB disease, which can be deadly if it’s not treated properly. Initially, experts thought it was just another "flu" virus, but the speed and ease of its spread coupled with its high fatality rates quickly proved them wrong. According to the CDC, only about 1 to 1.5 cases per 1 million people are diagnosed in the U.S. annually. Here's hoping the lessons we have learned from COVID-19 will make reactions to future animal-transferred viruses quicker and more effective. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over the period spanning 1980 through 1999, 62 confirmed cases of paralytic polio were reported. Within a year, the infection had spread to more than two dozen countries before it was contained through public health measures. | iStock.com/stockdevil. Society tends to treat menopause as a disease; something to be avoided at all costs. While there are many common life-threatening diseases you probably already know about, chances are you’re unfamiliar with rare ones. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 7 Dec 2020), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Dec 2020), ASHP (updated 3 Dec 2020) and others. The diseases that are rare are mostly genetic diseases. (February) IRUD Beyond is launched with the purpose of furthering IRUD achievements. Ebola was first discovered in 1976 and bats are thought to be the most likely reservoir (natural permanent host) of the virus. This observation started the human fight against smallpox. The history of SARS was short but not so sweet. 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