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What is Legionnaires’ Disease and where is it found?
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella pneumophila. Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment usually in water. The bacteria grows best in warm water and have been found in air conditioning…
What is Listeriosis?
Listeria monocytogenes (commonly known as listeria) is a bacterium that is widespread in the environment. It is found in soil, vegetation, water, sewage and the feces of animals and humans. Listeria can cause Listeriosis, a serious but rare illness that in certain cases can…
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a serious infection that affects the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system and the joints. Lyme disease can effectively be treated with antibiotics if the infection is detected early enough. Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria,…
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a serious disease caused by a microscopic parasite that affects red blood cells. There are 4 species of malaria parasite: Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae, P. vivax, and P. ovale. The severity of disease depends on the species of Plasmodium causing the infection.…
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Many different germs cause the infection. Some of these are viruses and some are bacteria.
There are two main types of meningitis: viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis. The symptoms…
What is Meningococcal Disease?
Meningococcal disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. This bacteria is found in the throat and nose in 10 percent of healthy individuals. In rare instances, the bacteria can overcome the body’s natural defenses and…
What is Methicillin Resistant Staphlococcus Aureus (MRSA)?
Staphlococcus aureus is a bacterium that is normally on the skin and mucous membranes of many people, without causing illness. This is referred to as being ‘colonized’. Staphlococcus aureus can occasionally cause…
What is Mumps?
Mumps is an acute viral infection of the salivary glands caused by the mumps virus. Since the mumps vaccine became available in 1967 the number of cases of mumps reported has declined significantly. The annual number of mumps cases reported in the province is very low.
What…
What is Norovirus?
Norovirus (formerly known as Norwalk-like viruses) infection is a gastrointestinal illness that occurs at irregular intervals or in outbreaks. The illness only occurs in humans and the virus is found worldwide. Of all viruses, only the common cold is reported more often than…
What are Pinworms?
Pinworms are tiny, white thread-like worms that live in the intestines. They are most common in children, but can also affect adults. They are easily spread among children and staff of child care facilities. Pinworms are a nuisance, not a disease.
What are the…
What is Plague?
Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is found in rodents and their fleas throughout the world. There are three types of plague: bubonic, pneumonic and septicemic.
Bubonic plague is the most common. Infection appears in the lymph…
What is Plesiomonas shigelloides?
Plesiomonas shigelloides is a member of the family Vibrionaceae. It is a Gram negative, motile, facultatively anaerobic, oxidaase positive bacterium. Most human Pleasiomonas shigelloides infections are suspected to be waterborne in nature. The…
What is Psittacosis?
Psittacosis is an infectious disease usually transmitted to humans from birds in the parrot family, turkeys and pigeons. It is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia psittaci.
Who gets Psittacosis?
Since this disease is spread by birds in the parrot family,…
What is Q Fever?
Q fever is an infectious disease caused by a rickettsia organism, Coxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary reservoirs of C. burnetii. Infection has been noted in a wide variety of other animals, including other breeds of livestock and in domesticated pets,…