Exotic Diseases: From Animals to Humans
FROM THE LECTURE SERIES: An Introduction to Infectious Diseases
Seventy percent of infectious diseases originate from wildlife. It is important to be aware of the many ways you can contract infections from animals, and know of the ways you can protect yourself. What do we know about some of these exotic diseases?
Infections to humans can get transferred from both wild and farm animals. (Image: Rost9/Shutterstock)
Tularemia: A Bacterial Infection
Tularemia is a zoonotic bacterial infection. The most common cause of acquiring tularemia is from direct contact with the blood or flesh of wild rabbits for example, skinning and eating wild rabbit meat. Tularemia skin disease in humans is most similar to cat-scratch disease, but more severe.
Infectious Diseases and Their Effect on Human Lives
FROM THE LECTURE SERIES: An Introduction to Infectious Diseases
Throughout history and in recent times, infectious diseases such as malaria, the plague, and Ebola have played a major role in transforming the healthcare system. With the outbreak of disease comes fear and uncertainty about containment. However, there is also evidence of positive outcomes from these trying times. What can they be?
The Ebola outbreak of 2014 resulted in a newfound interest in and appreciation for public healthcare. (Image: Leonie Broekstra/Shutterstock)
For most people, Ebola was a virus that mainly affected people in rural Africa. Many people in the United States were even unaware of it. But during the Ebola outbreak of 2014, the virus crossed oceans and eventually made it to the United States. But, along with fear came some positive outcomes.