When you travel, it is always important to consider all health risks.

One risk you are taking, especially in developing countries, is contracting hepatitis A (or HAV).

Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that can cause mild to severe illness. But, as is the case with most dangerous diseases, it’s quite easy to unknowingly spread and contract HAV.

The virus is most commonly transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food and water. Usually that comes in the form of infected fecal matter that somehow ends up in your food or drink. Any direct contact with an infectious person can also spread hepatitis A.

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Each year, about 1 million cases of shingles occur in the United States alone.

Shingles tends to be labeled a virus that attacks the elderly. Most people who do contract the virus, do so past the age of 50 years old. From a public health standpoint, it’s important that those who can be vaccinated receive the vaccine against shingles.

Shingles can have several serious complications, such as effects on the eye. Once the virus does affect the eye, it can lead to some dangerous situations that may need surgical solutions.

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Until recently, only people living near wooded areas or spending large amounts of time outdoors were at a consistent danger for lyme disease. But, it seems that lyme disease is becoming more prevalent in urban areas.

Typically, this illness is found among populations that are in rural regions. Regions near forests and areas where there is tall grass growing could pose a higher risk for the disease.

Ticks, especially the black-legged ticks, are the primary way people are infected with lyme disease. They climb those tall grasses and low tree limbs to survive. The insects eventually nestle and attach themselves in a warm, cozy section of a mammal’s body. Deer and humans seem to be the most preferred mammals for ticks.

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After a widespread vaccination campaign, the United States declared measles eradicated in 2000.

Eradicating the disease capped off a decades-long mission.

Starting the program in 1963, the U.S. would have 3 to 4 million residents diagnosed with measles every year. After 37 years, the U.S. met the CDC’s standards for eradication: no transmission of measles for one year.

But, the fight against measles doesn’t end when the CDC declares elimination.

A country needs to maintain the fight against this disease and continue widespread vaccinations. For various reasons, this proved problematic across the country.

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Many parts of the world don’t need to worry about access to vaccines and medical care. Locals can head down to a nearby doctor’s office, clinic or pharmacy and get all the vaccinations they need.

That’s unfortunately not the case in may smaller or less-developed countries around the world.

Take Ghana for example.

The small African country is located in the northwestern shores of a vast continent. While Ghana is a middle-income African nation, locals still have trouble accessing many health needs.

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Mosquitoes may carry some of the most dangerous diseases, but they largely stay in the same regions.

Those subtropical climates create a perfect home for the insects. Visitors to Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America or Southeast Asia knows the prep needed to avoid these diseases. The only worry for locals in other areas was if a travelers brought the disease home. If they were bit and brought chikungunya or dengue fever to a new area, local infections could begin.

Unfortunately, those many deadly diseases may not stay in the same regions for long.

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Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new immunotherapy method to expose and eliminate HIV hiding out in patients’ immune cells.

HIV currently affects over 35 million people around the world. In 2017 alone, it caused almost a million AIDS-related deaths, meaning the therapy technique could change countless lives globally.

The key to the HIV-fighting technique is, surprisingly, another virus altogether: cytomegalovirus or “CMV.”

CMV is a very common virus that can cause relatively minor issues such as fever, sore throat, swollen glands and fatigue.

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Researchers speculate that approximately 330,000 individuals are diagnosed with Lyme disease every year.

Although, that already high number cannot be confirmed and they have reason to believe it is much higher. As a matter of fact, many estimate Lyme disease is 10 times more common than initially thought.

Scientists only see that number going up in the next couple of years, possibly made worse by a new species of tick that made its way to the United States last year. Some calculate that as many as 2 million people will have contracted an untreatable parasitic illness by 2020.

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For over 10 years, people have been able to vaccinate against HPV. Since that time, millions have received the vaccine to prevent a common virus and the dangers that come with it.

But, many other people still have not received the vaccine.

And over a decade since the HPV vaccine was made available, the virus is becoming more common in certain age groups.

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It may not have a long history, but Nipah virus is rightfully causing some panic.

Since it was discovered in during a 1999 outbreak that led to 100 deaths, the virus has been the source of various outbreaks. Bangladesh, India, Singapore and Malaysia have all seen spikes in the virus. All told, there have been more than 500 reported cases of the Nipah virus in Southeast Asia, with almost 300 of those resulting in death.

As those numbers have increased, the WHO has give the Nipah virus more attention. They’ve included the virus on its list of, “priority pathogens with epidemic potential.” That list includes any illnesses that might be used in bioterrorism for a large number of deaths.

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