Apparently, there has been a spike in recent years in the grossest cause of death ever.
Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and intestines that causes vomiting and diarrhea. The number of people who perish from this unfortunate ailment more than doubled between 1999 and 2007, going from 7,000 to 17,000 deaths, according to the CDC.
“Gastroenteritis is a major cause of death worldwide,” said the study’s lead author Aron Hall, D.V.M., M.S.P.H. “By knowing the causes of gastroenteritis-associated deaths and who’s at risk, we can develop better treatments and help health care providers prevent people from getting sick.”
Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile, is an infection that frequently gastroenteritis. It can often be found in health-care settings. The infection, which leads to diarrhea, accounted for two-thirds of the deaths.
The second biggest culprit of gastroenteritis-related deaths is norovirus, which is highly contagious and can be spread through people, food, water or contaminated surfaces. 
Wash your hands, people!
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