What is the percentage of those who die in the U.S. die from infectious diseases?

[Nick from Utah]

I heard that in 1900, influenza/pneumonia was the number one cause of death followed by TB as second? Now influenza/pneumonia is still among the top leading 10 causes of death in the U.S., but they happen so much less often. As far as death certificates go, or whatever is a reliable way of knowing, what is the percent for how many who die die from infectious diseases?

Thanks! Just wondering

[monicalei]

I really wanted to find an answer to this question, but all i found so far was data from England and Wales. However, since England is also a developed country, i think the US rates would be very comparable. The report stated:

In 1901, 36.2% of all deaths and 51.5% of childhood deaths were from infectious diseases. By contrast in 2000, 11.6% of all deaths and only 7.4% of childhood deaths were from infectious diseases.

Although the rates have decreased drastically, we can't become non-chalant about infectious disease, thinking that its been wiped out. In the 80s we had a re-emergence of TB and then the emergence of a new disease that is now a worldwide health concern:HIV/AIDS. And as our population ages we have more people with compromised immune systems that are more susceptable to infectious disease, such as influenza and pneumonia.