Transcript Viruses

Viruses
 Core genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a
capsid
Poliomyelitis (Polio)
 Film: “The Polio Crusade”
 Polio = gray; Myelon = marrow of spinal cord; itis =
inflammation
 Highly contagious
 May result in paralysis
 Vaccine preventable
Polio Eradication
 Is it possible??
 “Hopefully by 2015 no child in the world will be
paralyzed by the disease and by 2018 Polio will be
wiped out.” – Bill Gates, 09/28/2012
 The current eradication program…
Rotavirus
 Most common cause of
diarrhea in infants and
children.
 Highly contagious
 Symptoms:
 Severe diarrhea,
vomiting; may lead to
dehydration
Measles / Rubella
 Common childhood
illness until vaccine.
 May be fatal
 Characterized by fever
and rash
 Highly contagious
through respiratory
droplets.
Mumps
 Highly contagious,
spread by respiratory
droplets.
 Symptoms: malaise,
headache, low-grade
fever, parotitis (enlarged
salivary glands)
Chicken Pox / Shingles
 Varicella zoster virus
 Herpes zoster virus
 Characterized by rash,
fever, malaise.
 Contagious, spread by
respiratory droplets
Vaccines
 Active immunity
 Dead or deactivated dose of bacteria or virus injected
 Passive immunity
 Preformed antibodies from immune serum of animal
injected.
 Acquired immunity
 Immune system fights live bacteria or virus
Vaccines….
 A loaded topic
 What’s the truth?