1. AP Environmental Science
Notable Diseases
AP Environmental Science

2. Malaria Pathogen and/or Vector Protozoa carried by mosquitos
Health Impacts
Fever, chills. Kills millions each year
Other important information
Medicine will cure, but hard to get in Africa. Mosquito nets prevent infection. DDT also prevents.

3. West Nile Virus Pathogen and/or Vector Virus carried by mosquitos
Health Impacts
Fever, chills. Can be deadly
Other important information
Dead birds are 1st indicators of disease. “Newer” disease in USA

4. Cholera Pathogen and/or Vector Bacteria in water Health Impacts
Diarrhea and death
Other important information
Eliminated in USA, but still in developing countries without clean water to drink

5. Giardia Pathogen and/or Vector Protozoa in water Health Impacts
Diarrhea and sometimes death
Other important information
In rivers and streams in USA. Hikers/backpackers need to filter water

6. Tuberculosis Pathogen and/or Vector
Bacteria in airborne droplets (coughs/sneezes)
Health Impacts
Cough (possibly with blood), chest pain
Other important information
Partially preventable by vaccine

7. HIV/AIDS Pathogen and/or Vector Virus in blood and bodily fluid
Health Impacts
Attacks the immune system. Deadly
Other important information
Worldwide, but epidemic in Africa

8. Food-borne illness Pathogen and/or Vector
E. Coli and Salmonella are two kinds (bacteria)
Health Impacts
Vomiting, diarrhea, occassional death
Other important information
Affects 48 million each year in US
Increasing due to industrialized agriculture

9. Yellow Fever Pathogen and/or Vector Virus carried by mosquitos
Health Impacts
Fever, chills, and death. Damages liver (turns people “yellow”)
Other important information
“older disease” used to kill lots of people in tropical countries

10. Cryptosporidium Pathogen and/or Vector
Bacteria with hard capsule or shell
Health Impacts
Diarrhea and death
Other important information
Cannot be killed by chlorine. Needs to be “zapped” with ozone or UV. Killed 69 people in Milwaukee in 1993 with 400,000 sick.

11. Hepatitis A,B,C Pathogen and/or Vector Virus in blood and feces
Health Impacts
Jaundice –liver damage. Possible death
Other important information
Vaccines available

12. Influenza Pathogen and/or Vector Virus Health Impacts
Fever, chills. Kills thousands in USA each year (usually elderly)
Other important information
H1N1 (swine flu) tends to infect young people

13. Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pathogen and/or Vector
Bacteria—highly contagious
Health Impacts
Uncontrollable, violent coughing, inability to breath.
Other important information
Vaccines highly effective to prevent, but has resurgenced due to non-vaxxers.

14. Measles Pathogen and/or Vector Virus—highly contagious Health Impacts
Severe respiratory disease with entire body rash
Other important information
Same as pertussis

15. Schistosomiasis Pathogen and/or Vector
Parasitic Worms carried by freshwater snails, spread through contaminated water
Health Impacts
A rash, itchy skin, fever, chills, cough, headache, belly pain, joint pain, and muscle aches
Other important information
Treatable with medication

16. Urban Ecology has lead to higher disease risk
Use Services
Day Care, cleaning services, food prep service, spa and beauty
Restaurants and pre-made food
Increased dramatically. Levels of food-borne illness have skyrocketed despite better refrigeration and food preservation.

17. Urban Ecology has lead to higher disease risk
Beauty parlor/Barbershops have increased services
Each extra service (waxing, mani/pedi, facial etc.) adds to additional reservoirs of pathogens, vectors and transmission risk.
Health clubs and gyms
Mycobacterium is found in indoor pools and hot tubs.
Many pathogens are now chlorine-resistant.

18. Urban Ecology has lead to higher disease risk
Globalization
Allows pathogens to “hitchhike” their way to new hosts in new parts of the world
More urban dwellers
Any concentration of people will increase the risk of disease transmission.
Floods, El Nino, hurricanes, earthquakes (Haiti for example) in cities bring high risk of disease