Norovirus, more commonly known as the stomach flu, has caused many recent outbreaks across the United States.

The “stomach flu”, where individuals experience vomiting and diarrhea, is usually associated with influenza. Although, according to the CDC, the symptoms of influenza are not the same and are mainly respiratory. The “stomach flu” can be caused by other various viruses and bacteria.

The stomach flu can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach pain and projectile vomiting. Anyone who’s had a bout with both norovirus and the flu will note the much-worse stomach symptoms with the former.

And if you’re worried about catching the stomach flu this year, your blood type could make a big difference in infection. That’s because a new study has shown that your blood type may increase your chances of getting sick.

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One of the most popular travel destinations is Europe. Whether it’s a summer getaway or a winter holiday away from home, Europe has become a premier travel destination for US citizens. But, many travelers don’t realize that they may still need vaccinations before going even to these well-developed countries.

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We know that motion sickness happens when your inner ear does not sense the movement that your eyes are seeing. It mostly happens to people who travel by land, sea, and air. Altitude sickness is not all that different, it is also known as Acute Mountain Sickness. It occurs when one ascends to a higher altitude too quickly. If left untreated, it can become a serious health problem quickly.

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Sounding like something out of a horror movie, a smallpox demon is actually far more scientific.

Or a mix of science and centuries-old Japanese history.

Although eradicated in 1980, smallpox created fear for centuries across the globe. The infectious disease caused a fever, vomiting, sores and skin rash. It even led to bumps that would scab and leave scars all over the body.

The smallpox demon comes from Japanese culture and believed to be the source of all smallpox epidemics in Japan. In medieval times, people would try to appease or attack the demon since there was no other source of reliable, effective treatment.

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Voluntourism, otherwise known as Volunteer Tourism, continues to be a popular alternative to the normal vacation.

A traveler can visit some exotic region with the purpose of volunteering. It can be an excellent way for individuals to learn about a different culture and explore a country while helping those in need.

Many voluntours are in areas of the world where there’s a need and the volunteers supply the means. This can come in the form of time, money or any other need for an impoverished area.

Voluntourism has boomed in popularity since 2005, but there are some clear advantages and disadvantages that come along with the practice. Not everyone is as enthusiastic about it as others.

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Rabies is a fatal viral disease from the rhabdovirus family. When thinking about rabies, most people think of wild animals, intense drooling, and aggression. In North America rabies is typically found in wild animals such as bats, raccoons and foxes. But, in other areas of the world the most common carrier of rabies is dogs.

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By the time a person realizes they have rabies or starts showing symptoms, it’s typically too late. That’s a scary thought, especially since rabies is a disease known to change the behavior of those infected.

There are so many diseases in the world, many of which we have vaccines, treatments, and other preventative measures for. With medicine and healthcare being as advanced as it is, one might think there would be better treatments for rabies. But the truth of the matter is that unless a person knows they were bitten by an infected animal, there is no way for them to know if they have rabies, especially since symptoms don’t start to show until it is too late.

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Hepatitis A may be causing outbreaks in the United States, but hepatitis B is still endemic to most regions of the world. The vaccine for the disease is even suggested before traveling to any foreign destination.

As a disease that’s found all around the world, many scientists have wondered where hepatitis B came from.

In 2018, that source is still a topic for debit in the world of science.

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Tuberculosis is a disease that primarily affects the lungs, causing symptoms like a bad cough, fever, coughing up blood and more. There are two types of tuberculosis infections, latent and active. If an infection is latent, it is not contagious to anyone else, and the patient shows no symptoms. In an active tuberculosis infection, they are very contagious and symptoms begin to show up quickly.

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Dengue viruses are spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito of the Aedes species, more specifically the female Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus. Mosquito-borne diseases include malaria, Zika, West Nile virus, chikungunya, and dengue fever.

Among these diseases, dengue fever is considered to be the most immediately critical. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue fever is also the most rapidly spread mosquito-borne disease with a “30-fold increase in global incidence over the past 50 years”. Dengue viruses are spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito of the Aedes species, more specifically the female Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus. With almost half of the world’s population, roughly 4 billion people, living in areas at risk of dengue fever, it’s important to recognize the mosquito specifies and to take necessary precautions to protect yourself.

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