Why is the advantage to bacteria/viruses that kill a host?

Question

Would it not be more advantageous to be relatively benign and keep on spreading itself around rather than kill the host?

Edit: I meant, “what is the advantage” not why.

In: Biology

Answer 1

You are right it is more advantageous to be benign. When bacteria from one species accidently infect another is when they become fatal. This is why our major disease outbreaks come from animals.