List of Diseases
- Smallpox
- Influenza
- Tuberculosis
- Hepatitis A
- West Nile Virus
- Acute Respiratory Syndrome
- Mad Cow Disease
- Hoof & Mouth Disease
Smallpox
Smallpox has not been an issue in the United States for more than 50 years, but with the threat of terrorism this disease has been thrust to the forefront of public concern and fear. Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease. There is no specific treatment for smallpox, and the only prevention is vaccination. The name smallpox is derived from the Latin word for “spotted” and refers to the raised bumps that appear on the face and body of an infected person.
Types of Smallpox
There are two clinical forms of smallpox. Variola major is the severe and most common form of smallpox, with a more extensive rash and higher fever. There are four types of variola major smallpox: ordinary (the most frequent type, accounting for 90% or more of cases); modified (mild and occurring in previously vaccinated persons); flat; and hemorrhagic (both rare and very severe). Historically, variola major has an overall fatality rate of about 30%; however, flat and hemorrhagic smallpox usually are fatal. Variola minor is a less common presentation of smallpox, and a much less severe disease, with death rates historically of 1% or less.
Influenza (Flu)
Influenza is a contagious disease that is caused by the influenza virus. It attacks the respiratory tract in humans (nose, throat and lungs). The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly and may include these symptoms: fever, headache, tiredness (can be extreme), dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.
Influenza Types
Influenza types A or B viruses cause epidemics of disease almost every winter. In the United States, these winter influenza epidemics can cause illness in 10 to 20% of people and are associated with an average of 20,000 deaths and 114,000 hospitalizations per year. Getting a flu shot can prevent illness from types A and B influenza. Influenza type C infections cause a mild respiratory illness and are not thought to cause epidemics.
The flu shot does not protect against type C influenza. Influenza type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus. These proteins are called hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). The current subtypes of influenza A viruses found in people are A(H1N1) and A(H3N2). Influenza B virus is not divided into subtypes. Influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and influenza B strains are included in each year’s influenza vaccine.
Influenza in Animals
Influenza can be common in birds, though avian influenza viruses do not generally infect people. There are cases of limited human outbreaks, and if the virus were to change into form that was easily transferred between humans, but so far have not been transmitted from person to person.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that is spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys or the spine. TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. When a person inhales air that contains TB germs, he or she may become infected. People with TB infection do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms.
However, they may develop TB at some time in the future. The general symptoms of TB include feeling sick or weak, weight loss, fever and night sweats. The symptoms of TB of the lungs include coughing, chest pain and coughing up blood. Other symptoms depend on the part of the body that is affected.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an enterically transmitted viral disease that causes fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, and abdominal discomfort, followed within a few days by jaundice. The disease ranges in clinical severity from no symptoms to a mild illness lasting one and two weeks to a severely disabling disease lasting several months. In developing countries, hepatitis A virus is usually acquired during childhood, most frequently as an asymptomatic or mild infection.
Transmission can occur by direct person-to-person contact; through exposure to contaminated water, ice or shellfish harvested from sewage-contaminated water; or from fruits, vegetables, or other foods that are eaten uncooked, and which can become contaminated during harvesting or subsequent handling.
West Nile Virus (WNV)
West Nile virus is a mosquito-transmitted virus that can cause encephalitis in some people. This virus usually circulates between mosquitoes and birds in Africa and Europe. However, in 1999, an outbreak of West Nile encephalitis was reported in New York City. Since then the virus has spread throughout much of the eastern United States, and was found as close as Madison, Wisconsin, and east-central Iowa in 2002.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Mad Cow Disease
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as Mad Cow Disease, is a chronic degenerative disease affecting the nervous system in cattle. It was first diagnosed in Great Britain in 1986. BSE is one of several transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). On December 23, 2003, a six-year-old Holstein cow in Washington state tested positive for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). This positive-BSE case is the first in the United States.
Hoof & Mouth Disease
A highly contagious disease almost exclusive to cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals. It is caused by a virus that was identified in 1897. Among its symptoms are fever, loss of appetite and weight, and blisters on the mucous membranes, especially those of the mouth, feet, and udder. Discharge from the blisters is heavily infected with the virus, as are saliva, milk, urine, and other secretions.
Thus the disease is readily spread by contact; by contaminated food, water, soil, or other materials; or through the air. Humans, who seldom contract the disease, may be carriers, as may rats, dogs, birds, wild animals, and frozen meats. Quarantine, slaughter and complete disposal of infected animals, and disinfection of contaminated material, are prescribed to limit contagion. There is no effective treatment.
With vaccines, introduced in 1938, and sanitary controls, foot-and-mouth disease has been excluded or eliminated from North and Central America, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, and Ireland; and occurrences have become infrequent in Great Britain and continental Europe. The disease persists through much of Asia, Africa, and South America.