The Civil War lasted from 1861-1865, and while artillery and combat, hunger and more certainly held a firm grasp on mortality within the war, there was one army, dubbed “The Third Army” by historian Jeffrey S. Sartin. It was the army of infectious diseases that by far killed the most soldiers, families, emancipated slaves, children, and more – over a million people were stuck in the middle of these disease hot-spots during the war.
It was announced earlier this year that the FDA authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. While many parents are ushering their children to their local pediatricians, pharmacies and clinics to receive the vaccine, other parents still remain on the fence about giving the vaccine to their children. This could be due to a number of reasons, medical issues, beliefs, and more.
Pneumonia is an illness where either one or both of the tissue of the lungs swell, and the air sacs within the lungs begin to fill with mucus. It is most commonly caused by bacteria and viruses. In other cases, it can be caused by fungi or even an inhaled particle of food, in some rare cases. That doesn’t make them all contagious, though. Here is a breakdown of what pneumonia is, and whether or not it is contagious.
Shingles, which is caused by the varicella zoster virus, is an illness that one in three people will deal with in their lifetime. This is because the chickenpox virus is still in their body, and has reactivated to form what is now at this age, shingles. Various factors like age, medical status, and other diseases that could’ve possibly caused it to reactivate. Is shingles contagious? Can you catch shingles by hugging someone with shingles? While chickenpox is also caused by the same virus, does that mean that shingles is, too?
The black plague is not a disease you hear about very frequently unless you’re reading a book or watching a movie about the Middle Ages. Also known as the bubonic plague and the “Black Death,” although the plague is not commonly seen in most parts of the world, there are some undeveloped areas where there are still outbreaks. Because of this, researchers are currently working on a vaccine for the plague, with one currently in clinical trials.
Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax bacteria can form spores, which are dormant structures that are very resilient. People contract this illness by coming into contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Anthrax cannot transmit from person to person. While anthrax is a serious disease, a vaccine is available for those who develop it. Discover how often the vaccine is available, who should take it, and its safety below.
When summer comes to an end each year, there is always a bit of a whirlwind of activity, especially when it comes to packing up your items and heading for your first year of college. While it is fun to imagine what your dorm room will look like, there are other things that you also should be considering, like vaccination against meningitis.
Every culture subscribes to some form of superstition when it comes to disease. When passed down from generation to generation, these beliefs become a part of the people and what makes them so unique. Indian culture, in specific, has a rich and vast belief system, filled with storied histories and colorful tales.
Chickenpox happens to be associated with a myriad of superstitions worldwide, be it through tall tales, religious texts, or even holistic medicines used as a panacea for the dreaded virus.
Every year, between 140,000 and 710,000 people are hospitalized because of influenza. But the best armor that we can use against the flu is to be prepared for it. That way, should you or a family member come down with the flu, you are ready for it. There are plenty of ways that we can make ourselves ready for the upcoming flu season.
Mosquitoes have been considered more than a simple annoyance to humanity for years. They’re responsible for unleashing deadly diseases all over the world. One of those diseases is yellow-fever a protozoan pathogen responsible for a staggering amount of illness and death. And in the typical fascinating style of the natural world, the mosquito and malaria are working together. This symbiosis is much to their benefit – and our detriment.
Contrary to viruses like dengue or Zika, malaria is actually a microscopic parasite. Malaria is often found in mosquitoes living in Southeast Asia or Sub-Saharan Africa. And malaria is responsible for anywhere between one to three million deaths every year. More often than not, the victims are young African children.
You might consider something like a parasite to cause problems in their hosts, but malaria ends up doing the exact opposite in their mosquito homes. Malaria gives mosquitoes the heightened ability to find hosts, such as humans, through the smell of blood. And malaria works so well with mosquitoes that it even improves their functions. Mosquitoes are granted superpowers like more robust immune systems, better physical health, and improved reproductive ability.
Their alarming ability to “stay young” because of malaria means that older mosquitoes infected with the pathogen will continue to reproduce and seek out hosts well into their lives compared to uninfected mosquitoes. This reprogramming of the mosquito’s brain could be the missing link to fighting off malaria and keeping the mosquitoes that are infected from replicating the disease. And now that a link has been discovered between the two, scientists can start taking new approaches towards battling the illness and the mosquitoes.
Because these infected mosquitoes are more hungry for blood, malaria-infested mosquitoes are much more likely to cause more bites, increasing the chances of passing down their malaria to humans. Since the increase in feeding and reproduction benefits both the pathogen and the insect, it’s safe to say that their relationship is incredibly symbiotic. It will take much more research to determine if breaking up their relationship is possible.
There doesn’t seem to be a cut-and-dry solution to separating this deadly duo. But now that scientists better understand their relationship, it’s becoming much easier to develop new mosquito repellent options to help keep people safe from malaria. And the more we can keep diseased mosquitoes away from their food source, the more human precious lives we can save.
Passport Health provides antimalarials, repellents and more to individuals traveling throughout the globe. Call or book online to schedule your appointment today.
Written for Passport Health by CJ Darnieder. CJ is a freelance writer and editor in Chicago. He is an avid lover of classical music and stand-up comedy and loves to write both in his spare time.
