Final answer:
The statement is False. Not all active viral infections lead to cell death, as some viruses can exit through budding, which does not always result in the immediate death of the host cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Most active viral infections lead to cell death regardless of the type of release process' is False. During the last stage of viral replication - the release stage - some viruses are released through the cell's demise, but others can exit through a process called budding. In the budding process, virions leave the host cell individually without causing immediate death to the cell.
Consequently, while some viruses result in cell lysis and death, others release their virions by budding, which may not directly kill the host cell. However, even in this scenario, the damage incurred by the host cell due to viral activity may eventually lead to cell dysfunction or programmed cell death (apoptosis).