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What is African Sleeping Sickness?

Human African trypanosomiasis (also known as African sleeping sickness) is a parasitic disease transmitted by tsetse flies of the genus Glossina, and caused by a group of parasites known as trypanosomes. This disease is found in equatorial Africa and follows a patchy distribution depending on the presence of vector and characteristic topographical features.

18 Nov 2009

What is Henipavirus?

Henipaviruses belong to the family of paramyxoviruses. Two species have been identified to be zoonotic, causing disease in animals. These are the Hendra virus (HeV) and the Nipah virus (NiV). They produce severe and often fatal illness in humans and horses.

18 Nov 2009

What is Bronchiolitis?

Bronchiolitis is an acute inflammation of bronchioles in the lower respiratory tract that causes airway obstruction.

18 Nov 2009

What is the Common Cold?

The common cold, also known as rhinopharyngitis, is a type of respiratory tract infection caused by a virus.

18 Nov 2009

What is Cytomegalovirus?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) belongs to the herpes virus family. Infection with CMV is very common. Between 50% and 80% of people in the United States have had a CMV infection by the time they are 40 years according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

18 Nov 2009

What is Ebola Virus Disease?

Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe infectious disease illness caused by the Zaire ebolavirus.

18 Nov 2009

What is Hantavirus?

Hantaviruses can be transmitted from rodents to humans through inhalation of aerosols from the rodent's urine, saliva, or droppings.

18 Nov 2009

What are Mumps?

Mumps is a viral disease caused by the mumps virus. It causes fever, headache, body aches and muscular pain, fatigue and loss of appetite. These are followed by swelling of the parotid salivary glands, just in front of the ear. This can be on one or both sides. The swelling lasts from a week to 10 days, and it may be painful to chew or swallow during this time. Recovery is usually uncomplicated, and occurs within a few weeks.

18 Nov 2009

What is Rubella?

Rubella, also known as German measles, is an acute viral infection that usually affects children and young adults. It is a contagious condition that can be transmitted between humans via airborne droplets when infected individuals cough or sneeze.

18 Nov 2009

What is Onchocerciasis?

Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is an infectious condition of the skin and eyes that is caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus.

18 Nov 2009

What is Trachoma?

Trachoma is an infection of the eyes by Chlamydia trachomatis and is the leading cause of preventable blindness.

18 Nov 2009

What is Leprosy?

Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae.

18 Nov 2009

What is Lassa Fever?

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by an RNA virus of the arenavirus family. It is most common in a large region of West Africa, and is named after the Nigerian town where it was first discovered by Western medical professionals. It is animal-borne, and the vector is a species of rat named Mastomys natalensis. Besides Nigeria it is endemic in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It is also found sporadically in neighboring countries due to the distribution of the rat’s habitat over the whole region.

18 Nov 2009

What is Ross River Fever?

Ross River fever is an infectious disease caused by the Ross River virus that is spread by mosquitoes.

18 Nov 2009

What is Chikungunya?

Chikungunya is a viral disease can be transmitted to human by mosquitoes and causes significant symptoms, such as arthralgia and fever. It was first described in 1952 when an outbreak in southern Tanzania was observed.

18 Nov 2009

What is Filariasis?

Filariasis is a parasitic infection caused by thread-like nematodes (filariae) that belong to the roundworm superfamily filarioidea. These infestations are common in tropical countries such as sub-Saharan Africa, southern Asia, the western Pacific islands, Brazil and Guyana.

18 Nov 2009

What is Leishmaniasis?

Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by a parasite called Leishmania donovanii. Sand flies of the Phlebotomus family spread these parasites through their bites. The different forms of human leishmaniasis include cutaneous, mucous and visceral leishmaniasis. The parasite affects the skin, the mucous membranes and the immune cells like macrophages throughout the body, resulting in severe damage and even death.

18 Nov 2009