The germ theory of disease

• How long do most people live in Britain today?

• What are the main causes of death?

• How does this compare with 150 years ago?

• Why have things changed?

Causes of death in England & Wales

•Describe the main trends and suggest reasons

year

Life expectancy/ years

Causes of death as

percentage of all deaths

Infectious disease

Cancer Circulatory disease

UK / 1850estimates

42 50 2 15

UK / 2000 77 1 27 37 

•We are living longer. What reasons do the data suggest to explain this?

UK in 1850 and 2000

Death rate from Tuberculosis

•Describe the trend

•Discuss reasons

Country/ year Life expectancy/ years

Cause of death as a percentage of all deaths

Infectious disease

Cancer Circulatory disease

UK/ 1850 42 50 2 15

UK/2000 77 1 27 37

Kenya / 2002 50 65 3 8

• Is Kenya today more similar to the UK in 1850 or today? • Suggest two differences, despite similar statistics