case fatality rate

American  

[keys fey-tal-i-tee reyt, fuh-] / ˈkeɪs feɪˈtæl ɪ ti ˌreɪt, fə- /

noun

1. the proportion of people who die from a disease contracted during a specific period of time, calculated by dividing the total number of deaths by the total number of cases and typically expressed as a percentage: CFR

   It is often difficult to pinpoint the case fatality rate, because many cases of infection can go undetected and thus unreported.

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Etymology

Origin of case fatality rate

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

case fatality rate

The WHO's figures for the DRC, which come from the health authorities in the vast country, show that the outbreak there has a case fatality rate of 34 percent.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

Mr. Kennedy’s declaration says that “among patients who have severe respiratory symptoms, the case fatality rate has been estimated at approximately 38%.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

However, past outbreaks have shown a case fatality rate ranging from 25% to 90%, depending on the circumstances and response measures.

From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2025

The case fatality rate is higher than it was in the 2022 global outbreak.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2024

Later estimates that tried to capture the toll across the world pegged the case fatality rate between 2% and 3%.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2023