Diseases in AP Environmental Science

Diseases in AP Environmental Science

Malaria

  • Pathogen/Vector: Protozoa carried by mosquitoes
  • Health Impacts: Fever, chills; kills millions annually
  • Information: Predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa; Medicine effective but hard to access; mosquito nets and DDT are preventive measures.

West Nile Virus

  • Pathogen/Vector: Virus carried by mosquitoes
  • Health Impacts: Fever, chills; has potential to be deadly
  • Information: Dead birds are first indicators; it’s a relatively new disease in the USA.

Cholera

  • Pathogen/Vector: Bacteria in contaminated water/food
  • Health Impacts: Causes severe diarrhea and can lead to death
  • Information: Eliminated in the USA; still prevalent in areas lacking clean water.

Zika

  • Pathogen/Vector: Virus transmitted by mosquitoes
  • Health Impacts: Causes birth defects (microcephaly)
  • Information: Can be sexually transmitted; notable during the 2016 Rio Olympics; found in many tropical regions.

Plague

  • Pathogen/Vector: Bacteria spread via fleas on rats
  • Health Impacts: Flu-like symptoms like fever and swollen lymph nodes
  • Information: Also transmissible through bodily fluids and tissues.

Tuberculosis (TB)

  • Pathogen/Vector: Bacteria
  • Health Impacts: Damages lungs; historically deadly
  • Information: Spread through respiratory droplets; treatable with antibiotics, but resistance is rising.

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

  • Pathogen/Vector: Virus
  • Health Impacts: Leads to pneumonia/lung damage
  • Information: Spread via inhalation or bodily fluids; mostly affects Asia.

MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)

  • Pathogen/Vector: Virus
  • Health Impacts: Causes respiratory issues resembling flu
  • Information: Linked to camels and bats; sporadic cases in the USA.

Dysentery

  • Pathogen/Vector: Primarily bacteria
  • Health Impacts: Causes diarrhea and intestinal problems
  • Information: Spread via untreated sewage and contaminated water.

Urban Ecology and Disease Risk

  • Increased risk due to urbanization and globalization
  • Services like daycares, food preparation, and spas increase pathogen reservoirs
  • Pathogens in gyms (e.g., Mycobacterium in pools)
  • Urban concentrations of people escalate disease transmission risk due to various environmental stresses.

Additional Diseases (Not on AP Test)

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

  • Pathogen/Vector: Highly contagious bacteria
  • Health Impacts: Causes severe coughing; can obstruct breathing
  • Information: Effective vaccines available; resurgence noted due to anti-vaccine movements.

Measles

  • Pathogen/Vector: Highly contagious virus
  • Health Impacts: Causes severe respiratory issues with full-body rash
  • Information: Similar vaccination issues; 140,000 deaths globally in 2018.