Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but very serious bacterial infection that spreads quickly and destroys soft tissues such as the skin, fat, and the tissue covering the muscles (fascia). Because of how rapidly it progresses and the high risk of death if untreated, it is considered a medical emergency. The infection usually starts after a … Read more
Nipah virus infection is a serious disease that can spread from animals to humans. It is caused by the Nipah virus (NiV), which belongs to the Henipavirus group of viruses in the Paramyxoviridae family. The virus is naturally carried by fruit bats, especially those of the genus Pteropus. In humans, the illness can range from … Read more
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a rare but serious disease of the lungs caused by hantaviruses. These viruses are mainly spread to people through contact with the droppings, urine, or saliva of infected rodents. The disease was first identified in the United States in 1993 during an outbreak in the Four Corners region. Since then, … Read more
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a serious viral disease that spreads to humans mainly through tick bites or contact with the blood or tissues of infected animals and people. It begins suddenly with high fever, headache, muscle pain, and dizziness. In severe cases, it can cause bleeding under the skin (petechiae), nosebleeds, and bleeding in … Read more
Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a rare but serious illness caused by the Marburg virus, which belongs to the same virus family as Ebola. The disease was first identified in 1967 during outbreaks in Germany and what is now Serbia, after laboratory workers were exposed to African green monkeys brought from Uganda. In nature, the … Read more
Otitis media is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear, the space just behind the eardrum. It is especially common in children, although people of any age can be affected. Globally, it is one of the most frequent childhood illnesses and a major reason children visit doctors or receive antibiotics. Common symptoms include ear … Read more
West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes that can occasionally cause serious illness affecting the brain and nervous system. Most people who become infected do not show any symptoms, or they may develop only mild flu-like signs such as fever, headache, and tiredness. In rare cases, especially among older adults or people with … Read more
Yellow fever is a viral disease caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), which belongs to the Flavivirus family. It spreads to humans mainly through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, though other species such as Haemagogus and Sabethes can also transmit it in forested areas. The disease is most common in tropical and … Read more
Q fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. This bacterium is very tough and can survive in harsh conditions. Q fever is a zoonosis, which means it spreads naturally from animals to humans. People usually become infected by inhaling tiny contaminated particles in the air, especially around farm animals such as … Read more
COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. It was first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and soon spread worldwide, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global pandemic in March 2020. The virus mainly spreads through tiny droplets and particles released when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs, … Read more