Infectious Diseases Are Our Biggest Crisis

According to the World Health Organization, infectious diseases killed 14.7 million people worldwide in 2002. The top 5 fatal communicable diseases were lower respiratory infection, HIV/AIDS, diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis and malaria. Measles, Pertussis, Tetanus, Meningitis, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and tropical diseases were also on the list. Many of these diseases occur in Third World countries, of course, but can be fatal even in America if left undetected or untreated. These diseases can also be transmitted through air, food, blood, saliva, people, insects and animals.

These are not every day health issues we face such as colds or hair loss that we can take vitamins for and hope for the best. What we are discussing are viral, contagious diseases like AIDS, Smallpox, Ebola, Hepatitis, sexually transmitted Herpes or HPV, Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Rabies, SARS, West Nile, Meningitis, Mono, Pneumonia and Yellow Fever. Then there are bacterial, transmittable diseases such as yeast infection Anthrax, Botulism, Cat Scratch Fever, Cholera, Diphtheria, Gonorrhea, Leprosy, Lyme disease, Strept Throat, Salmonella, Scarlet Fever, Tuberculosis, Typhus and Shingles. Some transferable diseases are transmitted via parasites, such as Chagas Disease, Malaria, Pinworm Infection, Scabies, Trichomoniasis, Giardiasis, Echinococcosis and other rare diseases. Other times, diseases are transmitted through fungus or prion (proteins).

Historically speaking, pandemics of Cholera, Scarlet Fever, Bird Flu and Smallpox ravaged cities worldwide and decimated populations. Few people can forget how horrific the recent Ebola and SARS epidemics were. The Bubonic Plague spread across China as recently as the 1950s, killing 200 people per year and 12 million since 1855. To combat the threat of infectious diseases and to preserve the human race, the World Health Organization was created. With increased access to medical care, education and immunization, the threats are minimized.

Infectious diseases are no laughing matter. If you are coughing and nose blowing all over the place but feel tempted to go to work, then resist and rest. Not all diseases are contagious, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Avoid sharing drinks or personal items with people and remember that prevention is the best cure. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are seven steps you can take to prevent infection at home: always wash your hands, routinely clean AND disinfect all kitchen and bathroom surfaces, follow food safety precautions to prevent under-cooking meat or cross-contaminating surfaces, get immunized, use antibiotics properly, keep your pets clean and stay away from wild animals. Don’t be one of the 160,000 Americans who die from an infectious disease each year!