THE WORLD Health Organization reports that 3.5 million children under 5 years old die each year from diarrhea and respiratory diseases. More than 80 percent of the deaths are attributed to unsafe water and poor hygiene and sanitation practices.
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Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It is transmitted from infected mammals to man and is invariably fatal once symptoms appear. Human rabies is rare in the United States, but still frequently occurs in many developing nations.
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Swimmer's itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, appears as a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain parasites found in certain birds and mammals. These microscopic parasites are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water (such as lakes, ponds, and oceans).
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Meningitis and encephalitis are usually caused by viruses or bacteria. Most often, the body’s immune system is able to contain and defeat an infection. But if the infection passes into the blood stream and then into the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, it can affect the nerves and travel to the brain and/or surrounding membranes, causing inflammation. This swelling can harm or destroy nerve cells and cause bleeding in the brain.
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Although vaccines or chemo prophylactic drugs are available against important vector-borne diseases such as yellow fever and malaria, travelers still should be advised to use repellents and other general protective measures against biting arthropods.
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More than 75 percent of Americans over 35 have some form of gum disease. In its earliest stage, your gums might swell and bleed easily. At its worst, you might lose your teeth. The bottom line? If you want to keep your teeth, you must take care of your gums.
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Rocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a disease caused by a rickettsial organism transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, and frequently by other tick species.
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Approximately 3 percent of American households own an estimated 7.3 million reptiles, according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. Because the most popular species will not breed if closely confined, most reptiles are captured in the wild or hatched at reptile ranches and imported. But what many animal lovers don't know is that with these imported pets come exotic forms of salmonella bacteria that can cause life-threatening illness in humans.
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Salmonellosis is an infection with a bacteria called Salmonella. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment.
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Bioterrorism involves the intentional or threatened uses of viruses, bacteria, fungi, toxins from living organisms, or chemicals, to produce death or disease in humans, animals, or plants.
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Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus that can affect the scalp, skin, fingers, toe nails or foot.
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Overseas travelers should be advised that contaminated food and drink are common sources for the introduction of infection into the body.
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West Nile virus disease is a mosquito-borne infection that can cause mild flu-like illness or severe encephalitis.
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Molds are small organisms found almost everywhere both outdoors and indoors. Molds reproduce by tiny, lightweight spores that drift in the air.
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