the resurgence of infectious diseases

ebola

A contagious viral disease originating in Africa. It is transmitted by blood and body fluids and causes body organs and vessels to leak blood, usually resulting in death.

influenza

RNA virus (like HIV), constantly mutating, vaccine must be changed frequently

HIV (AIDS)

caused by a retrovirus, attacks the immune system, screening test recognizes antibodies, many drugs available but no cure

bioterrorism

intentional release of toxic biological agents to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants

tb

leading cause of infectious disease death worldwide, spreads through air when a person infected coughs sneezes or talks; transmitted by aerosol, preventable and curable

emerging infectious diseases

outbreaks of previously unknown diseases; known diseases that are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range in the last 2 decades; persistence of infectious diseases that cannot be controlled

reemerging infectious diseases

diseases that reappear after that have been on a significant decline; affected by human behavior; may happen because of a breakdown in public health measures for diseases that were once under control or when new strains of known disease-causing organisms appear