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ISS007-E-10807 (21 July 2003) --- This view of Earth's horizon as the sunsets over the Pacific Ocean was taken by an Expedition 7 crewmember onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Anvil tops of thunderclouds are also visible. Credit: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center

Image Credit: ISS007-E-10807 (21 July 2003) – Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center

Top Killers Identified By World Health Organization

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Cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases and cancer remain the world’s top killers of humans according to the latest “The Global Burden of Disease” [defunct link] report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Based on statistics from 2004, cardiovascular diseases were responsible for 29 percent of 58.8 millions deaths in 2004. Cardiovascular diseases along with infectious diseases and cancer were responsible for 57.8 percent of the deaths in 2004.

Diseases remain by far the top killer of humans. Violent deaths due to murder, conflict, and suicide resulted in 2.8 percent of the deaths in 2004, less than the 6.6 percent for accidental injuries and drownings.

From 2004 through 2030 WHO expects deaths from communicable diseases to fall while deaths from noncommunicable diseases rise as the population ages.

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