My attempt for this as follows:-

1. Since the sentence is talking about current ongoing situation, so we can rule out B, C, and E, which talks about past.

2. Out of A and D, D seems to be clear over A. I don't know what other grammar rule can rule out A.

The passage means that there's a rise in the disease scenario which had called fuel fears for an epidemic progressing, but a surgeon comes to say calm down my treatment will work.

Option A- INCORRECT
The idiom 'fear for' s illogical on this context. Here, it is saying that there is a fear that epidemic rising is in danger.

Option B- INCORRECT
The use of progressive verb in this option is redundant. It makes the passage seems awkward.

Option C- INCORRECT
It has the same issue as option A. It makes the passage seem as if the author has concern for the epidemic on the rise.

Option D- CORRECT
The appropriate use of the verb 'has fueled' ... 'in progress' shows that the subject agrees with the verb.

Option E- INCORRECT
It is an informal representation of the previous one (Option D), It is not acceptable in this context.