Viruses

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), one of the human herpes viruses, does not cause severe disease in most infected people, according to Microbiology and Immunology Online. In infants and people with weakened...

Fifth disease is a contagious viral infection caused by parvovirus B19. The difficulty with Fifth disease is that it is highly contagious primarily before the tell tale symptoms that cause it to...

Ebola is a virus that causes a deadly and extremely contagious illness called Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The disease affects humans as well as primates.

Foot-and-mouth disease, or as it is more appropriately called, hoof-and-mouth disease, since it affects cloven-footed animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, and cattle, is an untreatable disease. It...

Hype vs. Fact Get your information from reliable sources. Here are some guidelines. Knowledge is power. Don't let the hype scare you and take control, educate yourself and that way you can...

Hantavirus is a disease spread through rodent droppings. Although initially appearing as nothing more than the flu, infected patients will soon develop shortness of breath and the disease is...

Rabies is a deadly disease that causes more than 55,000 human deaths each year. It's widespread across the globe, but the majority of cases occur in Asia and Africa.

Rabies is a viral disease that infects the central nervous system. Any mammal can get rabies, but it is most commonly found in wildlife.

Polio, also known as paralytic poliomyelitis, is a diseased caused by a virus named poliovirus. Though paralysis is the most serious symptom of the disease, only 1 to 2 percent of those infected...

Vaccines have been around for quite some time. They are very important in fending off all kinds of diseases. Vaccines have proved very important in controlling many tropical diseases still...

Chicken pox is a contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Once you develop an infection, blisters that can range from the size of a pen head to a dime will develop all over your...

Fifth disease is a common childhood illness that is characterized by a rash on the face that is often referred to as a "slapped cheek" rash. If adults didn't have the disease as children they are...

Rabies is a disease of the central nervous system. All mammals are susceptible to contracting the disease. Rabies can be fatal if left untreated.

Epstein-Barr disease is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and resembles common infectious mononucleosis. However, common mononucleosis typically occurs only once whereas Epstein-Barr disease...

College and even high schools are breeding grounds for the devastating disease called mono, otherwise known as Mononucleosis. Mono, which is virus easily transmitted through salvia, is nicknamed...

The last case of naturally occurring polio in the United States occurred in 1979 but the disease is still prevalent in countries like Nigeria and Afghanistan, according to the Mayo Clinic. Polio...

Smallpox is a disease caused by infection from a virus named Variola vera. The disease has no treatment, but it is prevented through vaccination. Smallpox was eradicated worldwide in 1980....

Hantavirus is disease that causes flu-like symptoms. The primary carrier of the disease is the deer mouse. Transmission of the disease can only occur by coming into contact with infected rodent...

Dengue fever, also known as "break-bone fever," is a tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Mosquitoes bite humans who have the disease and then transmit it when they bit uninfected people. ...

The flu is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. It is highly contagious because it can be spread through the air. It is important to know the symptoms of the flu in order to get...

Mono, known in lay terms as "the kissing disease" and in medical terminology as mononucleosis, is a viral disease caused most often by the Epstein-Barr virus. The disease is contagious for up to...

Polio is a contagious viral disease that can cause difficulty breathing, paralysis and death. It causes flu-like symptoms that usually last two to 10 days. While it was virtually eliminated in the...

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious virus that enters the body through the mouth and then moves to the throat, This swiftly-moving virus then goes into the gastrointestinal tract,...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rotavirus is the No. 1 cause of severe diarrhea in children. The disease is common and infects most children in the United States by...

Hepatitis C is a dangerous viral infection that infects the liver, eventually causing cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and cancer. Damage to the liver can also lead to the need for transplant...

When considering the treatments for hoof and mouth disease, it is important to recognize that this is a virus and so there is no remedy for the actual "disease." However, hoof and mouth disease...

Epstein-Barr was discovered in 1964, and it's the virus that causes the disease called mononucleosis, more commonly known as "the kissing disease." Epstein-Barr is part of the herpes family of...

One of the most obvious symptoms of the painful viral disease shingles is fluid-filled blisters (although it's possible to develop shingles without blisters appearing). If you have shingles, it's...

Dog owners in the United States are required to vaccinate their pets from rabies. They are at risk because wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks and bats, can become infected with the viral...

Your child comes home from school with a bright red rash on his face. You knew he had a cold, and now you realize it was a little more than a cold. It is fifth disease. Does he need to stay home...

Dengue fever, once called breakbone fever because of the severe joint and muscle pain experienced by its victims, has been a global health problem for more than 200 years. In recent decades, the...

German measles is also knows as the Rubella virus. This health issue is contagious and requires you to be away from others for about 14 days. However, the days do vary. If you are experiencing...

A highly contagious viral infection, Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) primarily affects children under 10 years old. Symptoms include fever, painful mouth sores and skin rashes on the soles of...

Rubella is a mild, though highly contagious, viral illness that is most common in children. Immunization programs have dramatically decreased the number of cases in the United States, however it...

SARS, which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome, is an infection caused by the SARS coronavirus. The first known outbreak occurred in 2003 with more than 8000 confirmed diagnoses which...

At one time, it was unusual for a child to go through his or her school years without experiencing the mumps virus. Then in 1967, a vaccine against this disease became available, and its incidence...