Every college graduate is familiar with the inevitable question from aunts, uncles, and family friends around graduation: What’s your plan for the future? Often, answers range from starting a new job to enrolling in graduate school. But what if you’re still exploring your options?
Louis Pasteur, the French chemist who lived in the 19th century, is famous for developing fundamental scientific concepts. He demonstrated the process of fermentation and debunked spontaneous generation, an erroneous belief that bacteria came from inanimate matter such as dust. Pasteur is also recognized for his work on vaccines; he was the first scientist to use live viruses in vaccinations. Pasteur’s work in infectious diseases was momentous for the development of the rabies and anthrax vaccines specifically. Rabies and anthrax are animal-born diseases that cause serious symptoms in humans.
If you’ve ever wondered what makes you so tasty to mosquitoes compared to other friends and family members, you’re not alone. It’s not your imagination that some people are tastier to mosquitoes than others. While there are plenty of myths and urban legends about why some people get more mosquito bites than others, scientists have found real evidence about why you’re itchier than your pals.
The World Health Organization continues to lead the fight against tuberculosis, transforming the approach from passive observation to active intervention.
Alexander The Great remains one of the most infamous and talked about figures in history. We know so much about his conquers around the world, but so little about what caused his death. There are many theories out there as to what brought this man to his downfall, but no one knows for sure. The most realistic theories of his death involve disease and viruses.
When considering “the most dangerous animal in the world,” there are several obvious candidates, like the Great White Shark or the Hippopotamus? But, this title rests with an animal you’d least expect – the mosquito.
Mosquitoes are infamous. They have quite a reputation for ruining barbecues and birthday parties. But the most dangerous in the world? What is it that makes them so deadly?
The Unseen Danger of Natural Disasters
From hurricanes to earthquakes and floods, no country is invincible against Mother Nature.
Recent natural disasters show that even developed regions can struggle with the long-term effects. Events like Hurricane Katrina in the United States and more recently, the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and tsunami created a myriad of problems for the public.
A lasting image for these storms will often be floods or decaying buildings. Many people will miss another dangerous problem: disease.
The Marburg virus is relatively new on the scene.
It was discovered in 1967 and named after one of the leading cities where the illness broke out, Marburg, Germany. There was a simultaneous epidemic in Frankfurt, Germany, as well as in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, which is modern-day Serbia.
In its early years, the virus was commonly called the Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever. While Marburg may be new to many, the world is already familiar with its cousin virus, Ebola.
Many diseases in the world are considered ancient history. Feared centuries ago, many assume that these illnesses are long gone. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for all ancient diseases.
Take leprosy.
The contagious disease is often associated with biblical times. In the modern age, leprosy probably isn’t even on your radar when it comes to realistic health risks.
If you are planning to travel to certain countries in South America, Africa, or Asia, it is recommended that you start taking malaria prophylaxis drugs before your trip. These drugs can help prevent malaria even before you come in contact with the disease. Can you safely consume alcohol while taking malaria prophylaxis drugs?
