Bird flu, malaria, plague and West Nile virus are infectious diseases we've all heard of. Find information on these epidemics and more in this section.
Ever since West Nile Virus arrived in the United States, it's been treated as a serious, growing threat. This virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, is potentially deadly -- but what are your chances of contracting it? See more »
Think the Black Death was the worst epidemic to hit mankind? Strap on a face mask and get comfortable in your plastic bubble -- the plague is just the beginning.
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Many of us understand that we're most contagious before we start feeling sick. Find out when colds and the flu are most easily spread.
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A research group in Atlanta has developed an AIDS vaccine that shows 96 percent effectiveness in non-human, pre-clinical trials. It's already in Phase I human trials and could be on the market within four years.
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The giddiness over studies showing that circumcision reduces a man's risk of contracting AIDS from an infected woman has died down a bit in the wake of subsequent research. It appears that a woman's risk of contracting AIDS from an infected man may be greater if he's circumcised.
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Many world leaders agree that we're losing the war on AIDS. AIDS is one of the deadliest human diseases ever -- worldwide, it claims approximately 5 lives every minute of every day. Learn how the AIDS virus attacks the body.
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If you've kept up with the news lately, you've probably heard dire warnings about avian flu, or bird flu. In this article, we'll review the basics of how viruses and influenza work, and we'll learn the answers to these and other questions about avian flu, including whether it is likely to cause a global flu epidemic.
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Mad cow disease is in the news again, with tests confirming the second case in the United States since December 2003. Learn how this brain disease affects livestock and people.
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If you're a mother in tropical Africa, a biting mosquito is one of your worst fears, because it can transmit malaria. Learn about this serious, often fatal disease and find out why it's one of the world's most pressing public health concerns.
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MRSA, also called the superbug, is a bacterium becoming resistant to antibiotics. Read about treating MRSA infections and how MRSA can be controlled.
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You may be familiar with the medieval 'Black Plague," but did you know that bouts of plague still break out today? Find out what causes an outbreak, learn why plague still exists and explore how the plague has influenced history.
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS is back in the news. A second case has been confirmed in China in the southern province of Guangdong. Learn about this potentially lethal condition.
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While most flu sufferers moan and groan for about a week and then return to work, the flu season creates more than just discomfort and a costly loss of work days.
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Ever since West Nile Virus arrived in the United States, it's been treated as a serious, growing threat. This virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, is potentially deadly -- but what are your chances of contracting it?
See more »
The results of three recent studies show that an uncircumcised man is twice as likely to contract AIDS from an infected woman as is a circumcised one.
See more »Honey can be dangerous to infants because of botulism. Find out why honey is dangerous for infants but not for adults.
See more »Your body is constantly dealing with microorganisms, its own and those introduced from the outside. Some microorganisms can cause what are called infectious diseases. Learn how the body deals with them.
See more »Early rumors claimed that having HIV doesn't mean that you necessarily have AIDS. Is there any truth to this?
See more »Since AIDS is carried through the blood, what are the chances of contracting it from a mosquito bite?
See more »If you've ever had to work through a nasty cold, you may have asked yourself why you ended up so sick in the first place.
See more »Foot-and-mouth diseases is a pretty odd-sounding name. So what is this condition?
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Learn more about what ails you. Here are some common symptoms.
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