Page 125 - (DK) Danger! Open with Extreme Caution!

MEDICINE TODAY
“SPANISH” FLU

When World War I ended in
November 1918, it had EBOLA
claimed millions of victims,
but much fewer than
the influenza pandemic that FEVER
struck that same year. Caused
by a virus, “Spanish” flu The first outbreak of this killer
targeted healthy young adults disease was in the Democratic
and could kill within hours. It Republic of the Congo in
spread across the globe with 1976. There have been other
breathtaking speed, killing outbreaks since then, but
more than 50 million people only ever in Africa. Highly
before it disappeared in 1919. contagious, Ebola is caused
by a virus transmitted through
saliva, blood, and other bodily
Doctors and nurses tend patients in fluids. It results in internal
an emergency ward set up to cope
with Spanish flu victims. This ward bleeding and is usually fatal.
is based at the U.S. Army’s camp
in Kansas.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Air travel seems to be
from wild animals. It causes
“helping” the spread of this
breathing difficulties, fatigue,
new, and potentially fatal,
and diarrhea. In only two
disease around the world.
years, more than 8,000
First reported in the Chinese
people have been infected.
province of Guangdong in
2002, SARS is a viral disease Hong Kong residents wear masks
that is initially picked up to reduce the risk of picking up
the virus that causes SARS.
AIDS—CURE HOPE

cells, known as helper T cells. This
The pandemic of acquired blood, the virus invades key defense
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) weakens the immune system and the
first emerged in 1981. Two years body falls prey to various diseases. MEASLES
later, its cause was identified as Research is still under way to find
human immunodeficiency virus, or a cure for this international killer. OUTBREAK
HIV. Spread by bodily fluids, such as
HIV viruses (green) erupt from helper T cells before IN JAPAN
invading and multiplying inside more of these defense cells.
The measles epidemic that has
affected thousands of students and
spread rapidly through Tokyo in May
2007 has taken health officials by
surprise. Highly contagious, and
usually affecting young children, the
measles virus is spread by coughs
and sneezes. It can occasionally be
fatal. The outbreak is being blamed
on Japan’s failure to vaccinate all
children against the disease.

EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS 125
(c) 2011 Dorling Kindersley. All Rights Reserved.