Parasitic Disease In The United States

In addition, diseases such as Hookworm and Malaria–brought to Latin America through colonisation and slavery–cause economic problems to this day. According to Hausmann (2009): “countries at a high risk of malaria grow 0.6 per cent slower than countries free from malaria”. Exports can be affected such as during the Cholera outbreak in Peru in 1991 which cost the fishing industry $800 million (Hausmann, 2009). It also increases healthcare costs and reduces worker productivity (Hausmann, 2009). Presently, resistance means that cheap medications for treatment of and protection from malaria are becoming less effective (Gallup et al., 2003, p.135). As

In the film, Foul Water, Fiery Serpent, former president, Jimmy Carter shows his process of eradicating Guinea Worm disease. With the help of Director Gary Strieker, Carter educates viewers on how the disease forms, how it has spread throughout countries, and how it will soon be defeated. When Guinea worm first surfaced, there were 3.5 million cases in 20 countries worldwide. With the help of Jimmy Carter, his campaign members, and many more, they have managed to drop these cases down to 3,190 by the year 2009. With some statistical facts at the end of the documentary, Guinea worm is likely to be the next disease in the history of mankind to be eradicated from the earth, right after smallpox. It was also the first parasitic disease to be eradicated, and the first disease to be eradicated without the use of vaccines or medicines. With this campaign, reported cases went from 4,136 in 2007, to 242 cases by 2009 in Ghana alone. None of this would have been possible if it were not for the awareness in global health, and the mission to make the world a healthier, safer place to live.

3. The edge of the rash is extremely unmistakable and may be textured or have knocks that look like rankles.

One of the perks T. Gondii has is its ability to easily spread between hosts. In Christie Wilcox’s article “Toxoplasma Gondii Brain Parasite Infection From Cats Linked To Schizophrenia, Suicide” she states that along with rats toxoplasma gondii can infect humans. “Around 1/3 of people on Earth carry these parasites in their heads.” (Wilcox 1) This means that statistically speaking some of those who are infected live in Kuwait.

American Medical Association. (2004). Foodborne Illnesses Table: Parasitic Agents. Available: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/36/2004_food_table_para.pdf. Last accessed 4th Nov 2012.

"You wouldn't need this for your most exceedingly awful foe," Kathy Potter disclosed to Fox 6

In 2010 there were 2 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in Alabama, which continued to rise until 2014 with the last reported number of 64 confirmed cases for that year alone. In September 2015 the Centers for Disease Control revised their estimates indicating that it is believed that there were more than 10 times more cases in the United States than the 30,000 reported. Lyme disease is the fastest growing transmittable disease in the United States. It is hard to believe a disease this infectious was only discovered four decades ago.

While reading An American Plague, I noticed an interesting detail that so many people were dying at the beginning of the fever according to Murphy (2003) “ On wednesday twelve more died; thirteen died on Thursday. Others besides the doctors were beginning to notice the illness. “ . I wonder if there was or is any way of preventing the fever from happening . According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it states that you should beware of mosquitoes peaking hours from dusk to dawn . Also it states to use insect repellent with picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin . Also there is a vaccination from it , but the (CDC) recommends not getting that vaccination only if you are going where risk of the yellow

Ticks, they are most significant vectors of infectious diseases in the United States. These arachnids can host a scary medley of infectious bacterium, and they are increasing at an alarming rate with one CDC graph showing their numbers have almost tripled since 1995 (Lyme Stats). Some point to greater awareness, other point to climate change, while we don’t know exactly why their reach is growing we do know we have to be wary of the diseases they carry. While not all ticks are hosts, ticks carrying the Borrelia bacteria known for causing Lyme disease present a massive public health risk. Lyme is one most under researched Infectious diseases with the CDC estimating that somewhere between 300,000 and 3,000,000 people are infected annual.

In 1899, after the Spanish- American war, Bailey K. Ashford found a parasite in the New World that was widespread among the rural inhabitants of Puerto Rico. Intrigued, he conducted several studies of the anemia caused by hookworm, which was responsible for many deaths in the area, and set up a treatment plan to cure the infected. Ashford set up dispensaries for the Puerto Rican population. Between 1904 and 1910, American officials treated 287,568 hookworm cases, nearly 1/3 of the population (Sledge 129). Meanwhile, in the United States, Charles Wardell Stiles of the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service was informed by Ashford of the hookworm outbreak. Interested in the information, Stiles took a preliminary survey

While reading An American Plague, I noticed an interesting detail that even after all of the white people became sick and weren’t able to take care of themselves the black caretakers began showing symptoms of the yellow fever later than everyone else. Murphy (2003) said that after taking care of the ill white people many of them began showing symptoms of the Yellow Fever. This detail led me to wonder whether african american people had a strong immune system than that of a white person. According to Eurweb (2016) In a study completed by both U.S. and Canadian researchers Luis Barreira drew white blood cells from 175 Americans. 80 of them were African American. The researchers then infected those white blood cells with Listeria and Salmonella.

Most parasitic diseases can not be contracted in the United States but when traveling, you can catch it. Luckily, you can take some precautions to avoid contracting them. There are some diseases contracted by consuming contaminated water and food. Some of the preventative measures that should be taken to avoid this is keeping away from drinking the water, swimming only in designated swimming areas, not swimming in freshwater and avoiding swallowing water when swimming, steer clear from cooked food from street vendors, raw vegetables, and unpasteurized dairy foods such as milk or cheese. You should also get specific vaccinations before entering different countries like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Influenza, Measles, Polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis

Heartworms: These pet parasites have the potential to be fatal if the problem isn’t identified early on. During your visit, the vet can also give you a prescription for heartworm protection medication.

     Transmission of the parasite can occur in several different ways. Direct transmission can occur by handling infected animal or human feces. One quarter of reported direct transmission infections occurred by direct contact with feces, while the rest were reported to have happened by person to person contact (Donnelly & Stentiford, 1997).

Not only are humans threatened by viral and bacterial infections, there are various parasites that also invade the human body. Parasitic infections are common in underdeveloped countries and are a prominent threat in rural areas. Though parasitic infections are known to happen in well-developed countries such as the United States. Contaminated water supplies, contact with infected animals, and improperly stored and cooked food can lead to parasitic infections. Parasites like tapeworms, protozoa, flukes, and nematodes can infect humans, causing serious health issues. These parasites enter through various parts of the body, and then live and reproduce in certain organs. Though there are many points of entry into the human body, most parasites enter