This disease is named for the Rift Valley in Kenya where it was discovered Name Rift Valley fever Transmission A severe mosquito-borne disease that primarily affects animals but can also infect humans The virus is most commonly found in animals such as camels, goats, cattle, sheep, and buffalo Humans get infected in three ways: Bites…
#IDFridays Week 32: Rift Valley Fever
The Future of Health Conference 2016: Health Meets Tech
Last week we attended the Future of Health Conference 2016 in Abuja, Nigeria. The theme this year was Health Meets Tech so attendees included everyone from health practitioners and government to tech entrepreneurs and NGOs. The rich discussions during the conference centered on the use of technology to solve challenges in the health sector and…
#IDFridays Week 31: Scabies
Scabies, also known as the seven-year itch, is caused by a parasite that buries itself in your skin Name Scabies aka the seven-year itch (this nickname comes from the fact that it can be hard to get rid of) Transmission An infestation of the skin by itch mites (microscopic bugs) The mites live in the…
To Prepare, or Not to Prepare? That Is the Question
We’ve already defined “preparedness” for infectious disease outbreaks so now that we know what it is, the question is should countries prepare? And if so, how? Let’s start with some reasons why countries should prepare for potential outbreaks: OLD AND NEW INFECTIONS: There are so many new/emerging and reemerging infectious diseases all over the world,…
Global Health Champion: Dr. Ernest Madu
On Thursday we attended a lecture and award presentation for Dr. Ernest Madu, a Nigerian clinician and leader in global health. Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania’s newly launched Center for Global Health (DRASA is collaborating with the Center for our infectious diseases simulation training), the event was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Dr. Madu,…
#IDFridays Week 30: Brucellosis
This disease has more than six names and comes from animals Name Brucellosis, also known as Malta fever, Bang’s disease, Crimean fever, Gibraltar fever, Mediterranean fever, and rock fever Transmission A bacterial infection that mainly affects sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, and dogs Humans can contract the disease in several ways: Inhaling the airborne bacteria Bacteria…
#IDFridays Week 29: River Blindness
The adult worms that cause this disease can live in the human body for up to 15 years and the disease is the second leading infectious cause of blindness in the world Name River blindness, aka onchocerciasis (the name comes from the fact that people are infected by flies that live in rivers and the…
#IDFridays Week 28: Schistosomiasis
Have you ever heard of snail fever? This disease is second to malaria as the most devastating parasitic disease Name Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia and snail fever Transmission A disease caused by parasitic flatworms known as schistosomes These worms live in freshwater snails and leave the snails to contaminate the surrounding water The adult…
What is Preparedness?
You may have noticed that we talk a lot about infectious diseases and outbreak preparedness. So what does the word “preparedness” actually mean? The Oxford dictionary definition: pre·par·ed·ness /prəˈper(ə)dnəs/ noun a state of readiness, especially for war Infectious disease outbreaks are not the same as war, but you get the idea. Preparedness is like insurance….