The United States has reached a turning point in its public health story. For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began, the nation’s overall death rate has returned to pre-2020 levels, according to newly released data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings mark both progress and new challenges as America reckons with the shifting causes of mortality in the post-pandemic era.

Covid-19 emerged nearly overnight to rank as the third top cause of death in the US for 2020 and 2021, after heart disease and cancer. The country's age-adjusted death rate reached a high of nearly 880 deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2021. In 2024, the rate fell to 722 deaths per 100,000—a reduction of close to 18% from the pandemic's peak and the lowest level since 2019.

What Is Killing People In US?

All in all, close to 3.1 million individuals passed away in the US in the previous year, provisional CDC data for 99.9% of death records processed by June 2025 reported. Although Covid-19 has not vanished—it continued to kill tens of thousands of individuals in 2024—its decline from among the top 10 leading causes of death is a testament to the effects of vaccines, medications, and acquired immunity over time.

Heart Disease and Cancer Still Dominate

The leading two causes of death in the US did not change: heart disease and cancer, which combined to cause over 40% of all deaths in 2024. Unintentional injuries—such as drug overdoses—remained the third leading cause of death.

Drug overdoses continue to be an ongoing crisis, even with last year's drops in death. Experts warn that as Covid-19 deaths have declined, the US is still very far from resolving its general health issues, especially those related to substance use, chronic illness, and mental illness.

Suicide Surges Into the Top Ten

Among the most stark revelations in the CDC report is the increase of suicide to the tenth cause of death, displacing Covid-19 on the list. Almost 49,000 Americans killed themselves in 2024, building on an ominous trend already seen at record levels in 2022.

The change highlights the way mental health has become a primary public health issue. Although opening the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2022 increased access to emergency assistance, political actions have also influenced results. In July 2024, the Trump administration canceled a specialized LGBTQ+ youth subnetwork that received approximately 10% of all contacts to the lifeline, prompting advocacy groups to worry about accessibility for vulnerable populations.

Children and Infants Make Limited Gains

Most age ranges experienced mortality gains in 2024, according to the CDC report, except for two: children aged 5 to 14 and infants, whose mortality rates remained unchanged.

Infant mortality has been a specific worry. For decades, US rates decreased steadily, but in 2022, they jumped and haven't fallen back to previous lows yet. Almost 20,000 infants died in the first year of life in 2024, equivalent to approximately 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. Mississippi issued a public health emergency declaration in August 2024 as infant mortality grew in the state that has fought for decades with some of the country's poorest maternal and child health statistics.

Disparities by Race, Gender, and Region

CDC statistics also show that, although death rates fell in all racial and ethnic groups, profound inequities persist. Black Americans' death rate approached 924 deaths per 100,000 individuals, approximately 28% above the national average.

Gender disparities also remain: death rates for women and men both decreased in 2024, but men still died at higher levels. Women, however, enjoyed lower mortality in most categories, as had been observed in previous years.

Geographic disparities also affect outcomes, with Southern states still experiencing higher death rates, especially associated with infant mortality, chronic disease, and socioeconomic issues.

The return of overall mortality to pre-pandemic levels is an achievement, but experts emphasize it should not be mistaken for a complete public health victory. Covid-19 is no longer among the top 10 causes of death, but the disease still killed tens of thousands of Americans in 2024. At the same time, other challenges—including the opioid epidemic, rising suicide rates, and stagnant infant health outcomes—are taking center stage.

The report underscores a larger truth: the greatest dangers to American lives are growing more preventable. From cancer and heart disease to suicide and overdoses from drugs, the country's largest killers have their roots deeply embedded in lifestyle, environment, access to care, and systemic disparities.

Public health authorities view the 2024 figures as a cry for caution, not complacency. Since the US death rate is now, at last, where it stood before the pandemic, the job now is to correct existing crises that never did get the same kind of urgent, unified response as Covid-19.

When it comes to tackling chronic disease, the United States is lagging behind its peers. A new study published in The Lancet reveals that among 25 high-income Western countries, the US has shown the slowest progress in reducing deaths from noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

The research, led by Imperial College London, analyzed mortality data from 185 countries between 2010 and 2019. While most nations reported overall declines in the probability of dying before age 80 from chronic disease, the US not only saw smaller reductions compared with other wealthy countries but also a troubling rise in deaths among younger adults aged 20 to 45.

The data show that between 2010 and 2019, deaths from chronic disease decreased in most US age groups but increased among young adults, a rare and alarming trend for a high-income country. Researchers describe this as “a rare phenomenon in high-income Western countries,” suggesting that the problem is systemic, not just demographic.

Majid Ezzati, the study’s senior author and professor of global health at Imperial, explained that while older Americans benefited from improved treatments and detection for heart disease and cancer, younger generations faced new and worsening risks including obesity, alcohol use disorders, and neuropsychiatric conditions like dementia.

The global picture provides a stark contrast. Roughly 80 percent of countries saw reductions in chronic disease mortality during the past decade, covering more than 70 percent of the world’s population. Denmark led the high-income group with the steepest decline, followed closely by Norway and Finland. Germany performed poorly as well, showing only slightly better results than the US.

While all high-income countries experienced a slowdown in the rate of decline compared to earlier decades, the United States stood out for its stagnation in working-age adults and actual increases in younger adults. Other countries managed to balance slower declines in older age groups with sharper improvements in working-age populations, but the US did not.

Why Is the US Falling Behind in Mortality?

The study did not dive into root causes, but experts point to a combination of health system and social factors:

Healthcare access and disparities: Millions of Americans lack consistent primary care, delaying diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions. Without a physician close to home, routine screenings often fall through the cracks.

Social determinants of health: Income inequality, food insecurity, and limited access to healthy lifestyles all disproportionately affect younger and working-age adults.

Rise in neuropsychiatric conditions: While cancer and heart disease deaths declined, increases in dementia, alcohol use disorders, and mental health-related conditions offset gains.

Obesity and lifestyle factors: Rising rates of obesity, poor diets, and sedentary behavior have made chronic diseases harder to control, particularly among younger people.

Ezzati emphasized that underinvestment in public health is a common denominator. “In both the US and Germany, there are segments of the population in which there has been less investment in public health, and these disparities in investment can lead to broad barriers to accessing care,” he said.

Is This A Global Slowdown, Not Just an American Problem?

The US may be the slowest among wealthy nations, but it is not alone in struggling. Nearly two-thirds of all countries saw slower progress in reducing chronic disease mortality during 2010–2019 compared with the previous decade.

In northern Europe, for example, Denmark and Finland reported slower improvements among older adults, but these were offset by faster progress among working-age adults. That balance prevented them from stagnating as the US did.

Globally, the slowdown raises concerns about whether countries will meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases by one-third by 2030.

So what sets top performers like Denmark apart? Researchers credit strong investment in preventive health, early detection, and broad access to primary care. Comprehensive strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention, aggressive anti-smoking campaigns, and early cancer screening programs have made a measurable impact.

By contrast, the US has struggled to implement nationwide preventive programs. Even when effective interventions exist — like lifestyle counseling, preventive screenings, and access to affordable medications, barriers in insurance coverage, geography, and affordability keep many Americans from benefiting.

Perhaps the most sobering aspect of the study is that progress is slowing not just in the US but worldwide. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment that once drove sharp declines in chronic disease deaths may be reaching their limits. Unless new strategies are adopted — especially those that reach disadvantaged populations — gains could stall entirely or even reverse.

For the US, where chronic diseases already account for 6 in 10 deaths, the message is clear: without significant investment in prevention and equitable healthcare access, the gap with peer nations will only widen.

Ezzati summed up the findings with a blunt warning, “The risk of dying from chronic diseases in most countries in the world is coming down. But we were doing better before.”

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has created a new mental health program called "Never Alone." The program was launched on World Suicide Prevention Day to directly address the serious issue of student suicides and to improve mental health awareness.

"Never Alone" is an AI-based tool designed to help students who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts and other mental health challenges. Its main goal is to reduce the negative social stigma that often prevents people from seeking help and to make it easier for them to access professional support.

How the App Works?

The "Never Alone" app is a very secure and personalized program that students can use anytime, day or night. It works through a web app that can be easily accessed via WhatsApp. For a very low cost of just 70 paisa per student per day, institutions can subscribe to the service and offer it to their students.

Also Read: Physiotherapists Are Not Doctors, Cannot Use ‘Dr’ Title, Rules Health Authority In India

The app provides a secure mental health screening and gives students access to both online and in-person consultations with trained mental health experts. This setup makes getting help more convenient and private, which can be very important for students who might feel uncomfortable talking about their struggles in person.

Growing Crisis Among Young Adults

This program was launched to tackle a serious national problem. According to government data, in 2022, more than 1.7 lakh people died by suicide in India. What's especially concerning is that a large portion of these deaths—35%—were among young adults between the ages of 18 and 30.

Experts say a big reason for this is that many people with mental health issues don't get the help they need. This is often due to a lack of awareness and the fear of being judged by others. The "Never Alone" app aims to fill this gap by providing a confidential and accessible way for students to get support.

Kerala, an Indian state located in the south and famous for its backwaters and green scenery, is now in the midst of increasing fear. Five individuals—children as young as three months old—have died in the last month alone due to a rare but deadly infection referred to as amoebic meningoencephalitis. The infection, brought on by "brain-eating" amoebae present in tainted water, has shocked the region and attracted worldwide attention to the dangers represented by emerging pathogens.

The newest victim, 56-year-old Malappuram district resident Shobhana, died on September 9 while receiving critical care at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH). Only a few days ago, another patient, Ratheesh, from Sulthan Bathery had passed away. Three others—a three-month-old infant, a nine-year-old girl, and a 52-year-old woman—also perished in the recent weeks. At least 11 other patients, including children, are still under observation at the state's biggest tertiary care center.

Why This Infection is So Lethal?

The perpetrator is neither a virus nor a bacterium, but free-living amoebae like Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba, and Balamuthia mandrillaris. These are microscopic organisms that live in hot, stagnant freshwater and inadequately maintained sources like rivers, ponds, and untreated wells. The disease occurs in two forms:

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM): Due to Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as the "brain-eating amoeba." It enters via the nose, migrates along the olfactory nerve, and directly infects brain tissue. Symptoms—headache, fever, nausea, stiff neck, seizures—rise within days, frequently terminating in death.

Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE): Due to Acanthamoeba and Balamuthia, these infections spread more slowly, reaching the brain via blood through inhalation or skin injury.

Worldwide, amoebic meningoencephalitis has a case fatality of as much as 97 percent. Infections were rare, having been first reported by India in 1971. But in the past two years, Kerala has witnessed a surge: 36 confirmed cases and nine deaths in 2023 alone, a sharp contrast to eight in the six years that had transpired.

What concerns professionals is not only the increasing figures but also systemic failures. Kerala's public health activists mention lack of coordination between state authorities, local health bodies, and hospitals. There is no unified database available that records confirmed cases, recoveries, or deaths, making health workers and the population oblivious.

Drugs essential in the treatment of patients are not produced locally and have to be imported, in most cases resulting in delays in treatment. Kozhikode MCH officials confirmed that drugs for specialty have been ordered from overseas, but medical practitioners assure that prognosis is still bleak, particularly among patients with comorbid conditions.

Has Climate Change and Environmental Factors Increases Risk Of Infection?

Why is Kerala seeing such an upsurge now? Scientists and doctors think that climate change could be responsible. Temperature increases and unpredictable rainfall patterns are leading to more stagnant water bodies where amoebae can grow.

Dr. Abdul Rauf, a pediatric intensivist from Baby Memorial Hospital at Kozhikode, says that most recent cases have had delayed onset of symptoms—sometimes two weeks—are indicative of other amoebae like Acanthamoeba or Balamuthia as the causative agents. He further states that dirty water with high coliform content, associated with sewage and poor drainage, also raises chances of infection.

This brings into question larger environmental issues. With fast development, poorly designed drainage systems, and houses located near waste disposal grounds, citizens are being subjected to situations that could trigger the spread of unusual pathogens.

Fear and Changing Habits

In northern Kerala—specifically Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts—people are going out of their way to shun ponds and rivers. Parents don't want to let children swim, and villages have gone so far as to declare temporary prohibitions against bathing in communal water bodies. The fear is palpable: each new case contributes to a sense of vulnerability, given how low the survival rates are.

Kerala notched up its very first survivor of PAM in July 2024—a boy of 14 from Kozhikode who became one of only 10 known survivors globally. Although that was celebrated as a rare triumph, it highlighted how slim the chances of survival are.

While amoebic meningoencephalitis is uncommon, Kerala's outbreak highlights a global reality: climate-sensitive diseases once relegated to "medical curiosities" are no longer only found in textbooks. With freshwater sources heating up and sanitation infrastructure coming under strain, more communities around the world may be vulnerable.

For public health officials, the Kerala crisis is a reminder that rapid response, early detection, and open data-sharing are not choices—the choice is lifesaving. For residents, it's a stern call to re-think common interactions with natural water sources.

Kerala's health department has now launched special treatment protocols, pressed local governments to keep a watchful eye on water quality, and stepped up awareness campaigns. Experts caution, however, that these steps need to go beyond firefighting. Long-term investment in sanitation, drainage, and access to clean water will be critical.

Worldwide, experts emphasize the immediate need for stronger surveillance and increased investment in treatment for free-living amoeba infections. Treatments available today are restricted and in some cases, experimental. A more powerful drug pipeline, in addition to prevention with measures such as chlorination of water supplies and improved environmental sanitation, may decrease mortality.