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Measles - This contagious disease is spread through the air or by contact, and results in a full-body rash, fever, sore throat, etc. It can include complications like deafness, brain damage, and death.

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Measles - Anti-vaxxers are largely responsible for the resurgence of measles, which was well on its way to eradication in the US in 2000, thanks to the MMR vaccine.

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Leprosy - This ancient and disfiguring bacterial disease is commonly thought to be a thing of the Middle Ages, but it's still here and it has a new name: Hansen's disease. There were 216,000 global cases of leprosy in 2013, and around 100 to 200 new cases are reportedly diagnosed in the US each year, CNN reports.

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Plague - This disease is usually associated with the Medieval times, when it was better known as “Black Death,” transmitted via flea bites or contact with infected rodents or dead animals. The ones who treated the sick were called plague doctors (pictured).

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Plague -

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports 1,000 to 3,000 global cases of plague every year. 

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Scurvy - When you think of scurvy, you might think of the high seas and pirates who didn't eat enough oranges, but you probably don't consider people living in developed countries today.

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Scurvy - The swollen gums, tooth loss, anemia, fatigue, and rash are caused by severe vitamin C deficiency, which is a problem for those who don't have access to proper nutrition.

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Scarlet fever -

In 19th-century Europe, scarlet fever was an all-too-common killer, but many have since forgotten about it.

Except for the fact that in 2016, nearly 20,000 cases were reported in the UK, which was reportedly the highest number in 50 years.

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Rickets - This seemingly Victorian condition—the softening and weakening of bones in children—is usually because of an extreme and prolonged vitamin D deficiency. Experts believe the increased use of sunscreen and the decreased amount of time spent outdoors is causing a revival of rickets in developed countries.

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Whooping cough - Also known as pertussis, this highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways causes repeated coughing bouts that can last for months, and is very dangerous to babies (who can't be vaccinated until they're two months old).

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Whooping cough - Though there is a vaccine, an estimated 16 million global cases were reported in 2008, killing nearly 200,000 children.

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Gout -

This form of arthritis, caused by excess uric acid in the bloodstream, was once known as the “disease of kings” because of its link to excessive food and alcohol consumption. These days, gout no longer affects kings, but rather those in developed countries with unhealthy lifestyles, quite possibly because of the lack of money for proper nutrition.

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Cholera - Caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with fecal bacteria, cholera leads to violent diarrhea and dehydration so severe that you could die within hours. 

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Cholera - It is treatable, and a vaccine is available, but it is still a worldwide pandemic, affecting those in areas with poor sanitation and water treatment.

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Tuberculosis -

Frederic Chopin, Jane Austen, Franz Kafka (pictured), and other famous figures all died from this highly contagious, airborne disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria.

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Tuberculosis - But it's not a thing of the past! Tuberculosis is still one of the top 10 killers in the world, according to the WHO, infecting and killing millions—most of whom are in developing countries.

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Diphtheria - This deadly disease causes a thick covering in the back of the throat which leads to difficulty breathing, heart failure, and even paralysis.

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Diphtheria - A rise in vaccinations made the disease nearly disappear, but in 2011, nearly 5,000 cases were reported to the WHO.

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Typhoid fever - A major health issue in the US in the 19th and early 20th centuries, typhoid hasn't been in the headlines as frequently, but it remains an enormous global issue.

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Typhoid fever - Spread through contaminated food and water, a reported 21.5 million people are infected every year, and it is fatal for one in four people. Vaccines and antibiotics are available.

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Rubella - Also known as German measles, rubella is a contagious disease caused by the rubella virus. While the disease is often mild, it's especially dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn babies. In 2015, the Americas became the first region to eliminate the disease. Globally, however, around 110,000 babies are born with congenital rubella syndrome annually.

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Polio - This crippling and potentially deadly contagious disease became known for its widespread epidemic in the developed world in the first half of the 20th century.

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Polio - There is no cure, as polio can only be prevented by immunization, but because of vaccination programs it has been almost completely eradicated worldwide. There are still, however, cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Mumps - Spread through saliva, mucous, and close contact, mumps causes flu-like symptoms and a painful swelling of the salivary glands. Complications could include meningitis, miscarriage, and deafness.

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Mumps - In 2010, only a few hundred cases popped up around the US, but in 2016 alone, there were reportedly more than 6,000, many of whom were vaccinated, which woke many people up to the fact that vaccines don't last forever.

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Yellow fever - Transmitted by infected mosquitoes, yellow fever starts out with flu-like symptoms and can lead to potentially fatal fevers, internal bleeding, seizures, and organ failure.

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Yellow fever -

While a vaccine exists, it's often too scarce when outbreaks occur, which was the case in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2016, and then in Brazil in 2017.

See also: Stars who suffer from rare diseases.

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