When we think of deadly diseases, we usually picture illnesses that take a while to run their course. But there are some diseases out there that can take lives within 24 hours of infection.

These illnesses are so lethal that you can go from perfectly healthy to dead in a single day. Here are some of the deadliest diseases that can kill within 24 hours:.

1. Ebola virus

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a rare but deadly viral infection that causes hemorrhagic fever.

The virus is transmitted to humans from wild animals like fruit bats, and can then spread between humans through direct contact with blood, secretions, or bodily fluids of infected people. Symptoms of EVD include fever, headache, muscle pain, and weakness, as well as diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.

The disease has a case fatality rate of up to 90% and can kill within 24 hours of symptom onset, although the average time between symptom onset and death is around 10 days.

2. Meningococcal meningitis

Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

The infection is transmitted through respiratory or throat secretions, and can cause symptoms like fever, headache, stiff neck, and a rash that looks like small red or purple spots. The disease can progress rapidly, and death can occur within 24 hours of symptom onset. The mortality rate for untreated meningococcal meningitis is around 50%, but prompt treatment with antibiotics can improve outcomes.

3. Cholera

Cholera is a bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. The disease is spread through contaminated water or food, and can cause symptoms like watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps.

Cholera can kill within hours of symptom onset, mainly due to the rapid loss of fluids and electrolytes. The mortality rate for severe cholera cases is around 50%, but prompt and appropriate treatment can reduce the risk of death to less than 1%.

4. Plague

Plague is a bacterial infection caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium. The disease is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas or by handling infected animals like rodents.

Plague can cause symptoms like fever, chills, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes, and can progress rapidly to septicemia and shock. The mortality rate for untreated plague is around 60%, and death can occur within 24 hours of symptom onset in some cases.

5. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a rare but severe respiratory disease caused by the Hantavirus.

The disease is transmitted to humans through exposure to infected rodents, especially deer mice, and can cause symptoms like fever, muscle aches, and respiratory distress. The mortality rate for HPS is around 35%, and death can occur within 24 to 48 hours of symptom onset in severe cases.

6. Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. The virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected animals like dogs, cats, bats, and raccoons.

Rabies can cause symptoms like fever, headache, nausea, and neurological changes, and can progress rapidly to coma and death. The mortality rate for untreated rabies is nearly 100%, and death can occur within 24 hours of symptom onset in some cases.

7. Smallpox

Smallpox is a viral infection that causes a highly contagious and sometimes fatal disease. The virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets, and can cause symptoms like fever, rash, headache, and fatigue.

Smallpox has a mortality rate of around 30%, and death can occur within a few days of rash onset in severe cases. The disease was declared eradicated in 1980, but there is concern that the virus could be used as a bioterrorism agent.

8. Yellow fever

Yellow fever is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes, which can cause a range of symptoms from mild flu-like illness to severe hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever.

The disease is endemic in tropical regions of Africa and South America, and can cause symptoms like fever, headache, muscle pain, and vomiting. The mortality rate for severe yellow fever cases is around 50%, and death can occur within 24 hours of symptom onset in some cases.

9. Necrotizing Fasciitis

Necrotizing Fasciitis is a rare infection that affects the body’s soft tissue, causing it to die. The bacteria that cause the infection release toxins that destroy tissue, muscle, and skin.

The infection spreads quickly, can cause organ failure, and can be fatal. Treatment usually involves surgery and antibiotics.

10. Water intoxication

Water intoxication is a medical emergency that occurs when a person drinks too much water in a short period of time. This can dilute important electrolytes in the body, leading to hyponatremia, which can cause seizures, coma, and death.

Symptoms of water intoxication include headache, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and confusion. Death can occur within a few hours of symptom onset if left untreated.

If you want to know more about these diseases and how they can kill within 24 hours, we recommend that you watch the following video:.