confused with idioms with 'fear'

[Mo2men]

Although the rise in incidence of the disease has fueled fears for a full blown epidemic progressing, the Surgeon General assured the reporters that his large-scale treatment plan would bring the spread of the disease under control.

A. has fueled fears for a full blown epidemic progressing
B. fueled fears that a full blown epidemic is progressing
C. had fueled fears for a full blown epidemic in progress
D. has fueled fears that a full blown epidemic is in progress
E. fueled fears of how a full blown epidemic is in progress

OA: D

Source: Magoosh

I do not understand different usage between 'fear of', 'fear that' an 'fear for'???

[GMATGuruNY]

I do not understand different usage between 'fear of', 'fear that' an 'fear for'???

X fears for Y.
Conveyed meaning:
X believes that Y is in danger.
Mary fears for John.
Conveyed meaning:
Mary believes that John is in danger.

X has a fear of Y.
Conveyed meaning:
Y scares X.
Mary has a fear of flying.
Conveyed meaning:
The act of flying scares Mary.

X fears that Y.
Conveyed meaning:
X is worried that the event described in the that-clause has happened, is happening, or will happen.
Mary fears that John will be late.
Conveyed meaning:
Mary is worried that John will be late.

[sagarock]

Mitch sir, why b is wrong?

[GMATGuruNY]

Mitch sir, why b is wrong?

B: The rise fueled fears that an epidemic is progressing.
It is not possible that the rise FUELED fears -- in the PAST -- with regard to an action that is happening RIGHT NOW (is progressing).
Eliminate B.

[Mo2men]

Mitch sir, why b is wrong?

B: The rise fueled fears that an epidemic is progressing.
It is not possible that the rise FUELED fears -- in the PAST -- with regard to an action that is happening RIGHT NOW (is progressing).
Eliminate B.

Dear Mitch,

Using your line of reasoning above, D is correct because the tense 'has fueled' is still in present or its effect still in present, so 'is progressing' would be correct.

Am I right?

The second part of the non-underlined part is in the past, is the sequence of event tenses logical?

[GMATGuruNY]

Dear Mitch,

Using your line of reasoning above, D is correct because the tense 'has fueled' is still in present or its effect still in present

Correct.

The second part of the non-underlined part is in the past, is the sequence of event tenses logical?

OA: Although the rise in incidence of the disease has fueled fears that a full blown epidemic is in progress, the Surgeon General assured the reporters that his large-scale treatment plan would bring the spread of the disease under control.
Here, the Surgeon General assured the reporters in the past, but the epidemic is still in progress.
This sequence seems logical.