In 2002 the United States reported 15,075 new tuberculosis cases and 802 tuberculosis deaths. What is the death-to-case ratio per 100 new cases?

1. The death-to-case ratio puts deaths from a disease over new cases of that disease in the same period. 2. 802 divided by 15,075 equals 0.0532. 3. Multiplying by 100 gives 5.3 deaths per 100 new cases. 4. Dividing the other way, 15,075 divided by 802, gives 18.8, which is one death per 18.8 cases rather than deaths per 100 cases. 5. Reading 0.0532 as a percentage without the multiplier gives 0.5, and slipping the decimal point one place gives 53.2, so both come from mishandling the multiplier. _Source: CDC Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice (3rd ed., US federal, public domain), Lesson 3 "Measures of Risk", section Method for calculating death-to-case ratio_