common viruses

Influenza

Cause: Influenza virus. Symptoms: Fever, body aches. Droplet transmission. Annual vaccine prevents it.

Common Cold

Cause: Rhinoviruses. Symptoms: Runny nose, sneezing. Droplet transmission. Handwashing prevents. No vaccine.

COVID-19

Cause: SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms: Fever, cough, fatigue. Droplet transmission. Vaccines and masks prevent.

Tuberculosis

Cause: Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Symptoms: Chronic cough, weight loss. Airborne transmission. BCG vaccine.

Malaria

Cause: Plasmodium parasites. Symptoms: Fever, chills. Transmitted by mosquito bites. Prevented by bed nets.

HIV/AIDS

Cause: HIV. Symptoms: Immune failure. Transmitted via body fluids. Prevented by safer sex/PrEP. No vaccine.

Measles

Cause: Measles virus. Symptoms: Rash, high fever, cough. Airborne transmission. Prevented by MMR vaccine.

Chickenpox

Cause: Varicella-zoster virus. Symptoms: Itchy blister rash. Airborne/contact transmission. Prevented by varicella vaccine.

Hepatitis B

Cause: Hepatitis B virus. Symptoms: Jaundice, fatigue. Transmitted via blood/fluids. Prevented by vaccine.

Rabies

Cause: Rabies virus. Symptoms: Hydrophobia, neurological decline. Transmitted via animal bites. Vaccine prevents.

Tetanus

Cause: Clostridium tetani. Symptoms: Muscle spasms, lockjaw. Transmitted via wound spores. Prevented by DTaP vaccine.

Cholera

Cause: Vibrio cholerae. Symptoms: Severe watery diarrhea. Transmitted via contaminated water. Prevented by sanitation/vaccine.

Dengue Fever

Cause: Dengue virus. Symptoms: High fever, joint pain. Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Prevented by mosquito avoidance.

Ebola Virus Disease

Cause: Ebolavirus. Symptoms: Fever, internal bleeding. Transmitted via body fluids. Prevented by vaccination/isolation.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Cause: Bordetella pertussis. Symptoms: Severe coughing spells. Airborne transmission. Prevented by DTaP vaccine.

Polio

Cause: Poliovirus. Symptoms: Paralysis, muscle weakness. Fecal-oral transmission. Prevented by IPV/OPV vaccines.

Strep Throat

Cause: Streptococcus pyogenes. Symptoms: Sore throat, fever. Droplet transmission. Prevented by hygiene. No vaccine.

Lyme Disease

Cause: Borrelia burgdorferi. Symptoms: Bullseye rash, fever. Transmitted by tick bites. Prevented by tick avoidance.

Salmonellosis

Cause: Salmonella bacteria. Symptoms: Diarrhea, cramps, fever. Transmitted via contaminated food. Prevented by proper cooking.

Zika Virus

Cause: Zika virus. Symptoms: Rash, fever, joint pain. Transmitted by mosquitoes. Prevented by avoiding bites.

Mumps

Cause: Mumps virus. Symptoms: Swollen salivary glands. Droplet transmission. Prevented by MMR vaccine.

Rubella

Cause: Rubella virus. Symptoms: Rash, mild fever. Droplet transmission. Prevented by MMR vaccine.

Meningococcal Meningitis

Cause: Neisseria meningitidis. Symptoms: Stiff neck, high fever. Droplet transmission. Prevented by meningococcal vaccine.

Shingles

Cause: Varicella-zoster virus. Symptoms: Painful blistering rash. Virus reactivation. Prevented by Shingrix vaccine.

Yellow Fever

Cause: Yellow fever virus. Symptoms: Jaundice, fever. Transmitted by mosquito bites. Prevented by yellow fever vaccine.