What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa? Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. P. aeruginosa is a ubiquitous microorganism, which means it has the ability to survive under a variety of environmental conditions. It is commonly found in the environment e.g. water and soil. It causes disease in plants, animals and humans where it is an opportunistic pathogen, affecting patients when […]
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What is Poliomyelitis (polio)? Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children. The virus is transmitted to person-to-person through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (for example, contaminated water or food). Polio upon transmission multiplies in the intestine, it then invades the nervous system that can
What is a pneumococcal infection? A pneumococcal infection is an infection caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is also called the pneumococcus. S. pneumoniae is a common member of the bacterial flora colonizing the nose and throat of 5–10% of healthy adults and 20–40% of healthy children.However, it is also a cause of significant
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What is Pneumococcus? Pneumococcal disease is a name for any infection caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. Pneumococcal infections can range from ear and sinus infections to pneumonia and bloodstream infections. There are vaccines to help prevent pneumococcal disease. All specimens that are sent to the Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis for
What is Plague? Plague is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Plague is found mainly in rodents, and is spread by fleas from rodent to rodent, as well as from rodents to other animals (including dogs) and humans, or accidentally from fleas to humans. Plague is still present in parts of Africa,
What is Pertussis? Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly infectious disease that affects the respiratory tract. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis in Publications Bulletin April 2019 Bulletin November 2015 Bulletin November 2014 Bulletin November 2011 Bulletin May 2005
What is a novel respiratory pathogen ? A newly identified respiratory pathogen, also called an emerging or novel respiratory pathogen, that causes acute respiratory infections may be a cause for concern for its potential to impact public health significantly. These infections include those caused by either the emergence of new variants of known respiratory pathogens (e.g. influenza
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What is Mumps? Mumps is an infection caused by the ‘rubula’ or mumps virus. It is sometimes called ‘infectious parotitis’, meaning infection of the salivary glands.
What is Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. We do not yet know what causes MIS-C. However, we know that many children with MIS-C had the virus that
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What is Monkeypox? Monkeypox is caused by infection with monkeypox virus, a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family Poxviridae. There are currently more than 80 poxviruses known to science and these poxviruses have been isolated from different species of birds, insects, reptiles, marsupials and mammals. Poxviruses that may cause human disease include the smallpox (or
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