The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a communicable respiratory disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus that causes illness in humans. Scientists are still learning about the disease, and think that the virus began in animals. At some point, one or more humans acquired infection from an animal, and those infected humans began transmitting infection to other humans. 

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Domestic and wild animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, antelope, and deer can become infected when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water. People get infected with anthrax when spores get into the body. When anthrax spores get inside the body, they can be “activated.” When they become active, the bacteria can multiply, spread out in the body, produce toxins (poisons), and cause severe illness. This can happen when people breathe in spores, eat food or drink water that is contaminated with spores, or get spores in a cut or scrape in the skin.

The symptoms of anthrax depend on the type of infection and can take anywhere from one day to more than two months to appear. Cutaneous Anthrax include a group of small blisters or bumps that may itch, swelling can occur around the sore, A painless skin sore (ulcer) with a black center that appears after the small blisters or bumps and most often the sore will be on the face, neck, arms, or hands. Inhalation Anthrax involve fever and chills, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, confusion or dizziness and cough, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains, headache, sweats (often drenching), extreme tiredness and body aches. Gastrointestinal Anthrax symptoms involve fever and chills, swelling of neck or neck glands, sore throat, painful swallowing, hoarseness, nausea and vomiting, especially bloody vomiting, diarrhoea or bloody diarrhoea, headache, flushing (red face) and red eyes, stomach pain, fainting and swelling of abdomen (stomach). Injection Anthrax include fever and chills, a group of small blisters or bumps that may itch, appearing where the drug was injected, a painless skin sore with a black center that appears after the blisters or bumps, swelling around the sore and abscesses deep under the skin or in the muscle where the drug was injected.

All Type of Anthrax can be treated by Antibiotics and Antitoxin. Antibiotics can also prevent anthrax from developing in people who have been exposed but have not developed symptoms. Ciprofloxacin and doxycycline are two of the antibiotics that could be used to prevent anthrax.

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Zika virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus can also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, through sexual contact, organ transplantation, and blood or blood product transfusion.

Most people infected with the Zika virus do not have symptoms. Occasionally mild symptoms occur, including rash, fever, headache, malaise, muscle and joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Risk of exposure is greatest in tropical and subtropical regions. Infected mosquitoes are most active during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.

There is no available treatment. Those with symptoms should rest, drink fluids, and use common medicines to treat pain and fever. Pregnant women with the virus or living near areas of transmission should visit a doctor for laboratory testing.

Eliminating small collections of water which may be breeding sites for mosquitoes is important in reducing exposure. Always cover water storage containers, clean up tyres, and trash, and emptying standing water from flowerpots to avoid mosquito breeding. Applying insect repellent that contains DEET, wearing light-coloured clothing, and using physical barriers such as doors and screens can prevent infected mosquito bites.

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Human infection with avian influenza is generally through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments. This includes consumption of raw, contaminated poultry blood. these viruses have not acquired the ability of sustained transmission among humans.

Common initial symptoms of the A(H5) and A(H7N9) avian influenza viruses are high fever and cough followed by dyspnea or difficulty breathing. Abdominal pain, bleeding from the nose or gums, diarrhea, vomiting, encephalitis, and chest pain have also been reported. For A(H7N7) and A(H9N2), disease is typically mild.

Treatment of avian influenza is recommended for at least 5 days. As soon as possible, neuraminidase inhibitors should be prescribed, though they can be administered at various stages of illness. Corticosteroids should not be used routinely unless necessary.

Influenza viruses, with the vast silent reservoir in aquatic birds, are impossible to eradicate. Zoonotic influenza infection in humans will continue to occur. To minimize public health risk, quality surveillance in both animal and human populations, thorough investigation of every human infection and risk-based pandemic planning are essential. In affected countries, people should avoid contact with high-risk environments such as live animal markets and poultry farms, any free-ranging or caged poultry, or surfaces that might be contaminated by poultry droppings. People should also avoid contact with dead migratory birds or wild birds showing signs of disease, and should avoid consumption of undercooked eggs, poultry or poultry products. Hand hygiene with frequent washing or use of alcohol rubs is recommended.

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The polio virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (for example, contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis

It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck and pain in the limbs. 1 in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). Among those paralyzed, 5% to 10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.

There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented by vaccine. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life.

Recent Outbreaks in Africa

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It is transmitted between animals through fleas. Humans can be infected through the bite of infected vector fleas; unprotected contact with infectious bodily fluids or contaminated materials, and the inhalation of respiratory droplets/small particles from a patient with pneumonic plague.

People infected with plague usually develop acute febrile disease with other non-specific systemic symptoms after an incubation period of one to seven days, such as sudden onset of fever, chills, head and body aches, and weakness, vomiting and nausea.

Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for survival and reduction of complications. Antibiotics and supportive therapy are effective against plague if patients are diagnosed on time. Pneumonic plague can be fatal within 18 to 24 hours of disease onset if left untreated, but common antibiotics for enterobacteria (gram negative rods) can effectively cure the disease if they are delivered early.

Preventive measures include informing people when zoonotic plague is present in their environment and advising them to take precautions against flea bites and not to handle animal carcasses. Generally, people should be advised to avoid direct contact with infected body fluids and tissues. When handling potentially infected patients and collecting specimens, standard precautions should apply.

Recent Outbreaks in Africa

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The Neisseria meningitidis bacteria are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Smoking, close and prolonged contact – such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters with a carrier – facilitates the spread of the disease. Transmission of N. meningitidis is facilitated during mass gatherings, For example, the Haj pilgrimage.

The average incubation period is four days , but can range between two and ten days. The most common symptoms are a stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting. A less common but even more severe (often fatal) form of meningococcal disease is meningococcal septicemia, which is characterized by a hemorrhagic rash and rapid circulatory collapse.

Meningococcal disease is potentially fatal and should always be viewed as a medical emergency. Admission to a hospital or health center is necessary. Isolation of the patient is not necessary. Appropriate antibiotic treatment must be started as soon as possible. A range of antibiotics can treat the infection, including penicillin, ampicillin and ceftriaxone. Under epidemic conditions in Africa in areas with limited health infrastructure and resources, ceftriaxone is the drug of choice.

Licensed vaccines against meningococcal disease have been available for more than 40 years. Over time, there have been major improvements in strain coverage and vaccine availability, but to date no universal vaccine against meningococcal disease exists. Vaccines are serogroup specific and confer varying degrees of duration of protection. Meningitis Vaccine are used for prevention (routine immunization) and in response to outbreaks (prompt reactive vaccination). In the African meningitis belt, chemoprophylaxis for close contacts is recommended in non-epidemic situations. Antibiotic prophylaxis for close contacts, when given promptly, decreases the risk of transmission.

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The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector of dengue. The virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes. After virus incubation for 4-10 days, an infected mosquito is capable of transmitting the virus for the rest of its life. Infected symptomatic or asymptomatic humans are the main carriers and multipliers of the virus, serving as a source of the virus for uninfected mosquitoes. Patients who are already infected with the dengue virus can transmit the infection (for 4-5 days; maximum 12) via Aedes mosquitoes after their first symptoms appear.

Dengue should be suspected when a high fever (40°C/104°F) is accompanied by 2 of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands or rash. Symptoms usually last for 2-7 days, after an incubation period of 4-10 days after the bite from an infected mosquito. Severe dengue is a potentially deadly complication due to plasma leaking, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, or organ impairment.

There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. For severe dengue, medical care by physicians and nurses experienced with the effects and progression of the disease can save lives – decreasing mortality rates from more than 20% to less than 1%. Maintenance of the patient’s body fluid volume is critical to severe dengue care.

The main method to control or prevent the transmission of dengue virus is to combat vector mosquitoes. Careful clinical detection and management of dengue patients can significantly reduce mortality rates from severe dengue.

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The virus is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, or consuming food or water contaminated by the faeces of an infected person. Contaminated water is the principal source of infection. This route accounts for a very large proportion of clinical cases with this disease Hepatitis E is generally transmitted through the fecal-oral route, or consuming food or water contaminated by the faeces of an infected person. Hepatitis E can also be transmitted from mother to fetus, blood transfusion, and consumption of meat or products from infected animals. In endemic areas, consumption of raw or uncooked shellfish may also be the source.

Typical symptoms include an initial fever, reduced appetite, nausea and vomiting, jaundice, dark urine and pale stool, and a slightly enlarged and tender liver. Some people experience abdominal pain, itching without skin lesions, skin rash, or joint pain. In areas with high endemicity, symptoms are most often found in those 15-40 years old, and infection may go undiagnosed in asymptomatic children.

There is no specific treatment, but hospitalization is only required for those with fulminant hepatitis and is a consideration for pregnant women. Ribavarin, and antiviral drug, may be used for immunosuppressed people with chronic Hepatitis E.

Maintaining a high level of quality for drinking water and properly disposing of faeces reduces risk of transmission. Practicing healthy hygiene by washing hands with safe water, not ingesting water of unknown quality, and abiding by WHO safe food practices.

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Though the animal to human route is not fully understood, dromedary camels are a major host for MERS-CoV, and direct or indirect contact with an infected animal may lead to transmission. Human to human cases are limited so far, but have occurred among family members, patients, and healthcare workers in very close contact. A majority of cases of the virus have been transmitted in healthcare settings before MERS-CoV was diagnosed. 

Typical symptoms present as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. However, symptoms can range from nonexistent to severe acute respiratory disease. Pneumonia is common, but not always present. Diarrhea has been reported. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for MERS-CoV. Treatment is based on the condition and needs of the patient.

When visiting farms, markets, or barns where dromedary camels may be present, follow general hygiene procedures such as washing hands before and after touching animals and avoid contact with sick animals. Animal products, including camel meat and milk, should be properly handled with pasteurization, cooking or other heat treatments before consumption to avoid organisms carried in raw or undercooked meat.

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