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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,…
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a serious disease that is caused by a virus. The disease is contagious and affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Warm blooded animals can get the disease and pass it onto other. Once symptoms appear in humans and animals, it is…
What is Rotavirus?
Rotavirus is a virus that can cause severe diarrhea, usually with fever and vomiting. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among children and is also known to cause outbreaks among the elderly living in group settings. Virtually all children become…
What is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause food-borne infection called Salmonellosis. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Symptoms can occur from 6 to 72 hours after becoming infected.
How is…
What is Scabies?
Scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by tiny insects called mites. The mite is so small, it can only be seen with a magnifying glass.
What are the symptoms of Scabies?
The mites burrow into the skin and cause a very itchy rash. The rash looks like curvy, white…
What Is Shigellosis?
Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. The disease itself is commonly referred to as dysentery. People are the only source for Shigella bacteria. It is extremely infectious, and ingestion of 10 organisms is enough to…
What is Shingles?
Shingles is a viral infection of the central nervous system, which may cause a painful rash with blisters. The varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox, causes herpes zoster or shingles. After an individual has chickenpox, this virus lives in the nerves and…
What is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is an infection caused by bacteria (germ) called Group A Streptococcus. Strep throat is more common in children than adults.
What are signs and symptoms of Strep Throat?
Children with strep throat usually have a very sore throat, headache, swollen and…
What is Pneumococcal Disease?
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. These bacteria are commonly found in the nose and throat of healthy adults and children but do not cause infections most of the time. However, when…