Archive for category: Disease

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Top Diseases in the Marshall Islands

Top Diseases in the Marshall IslandsThe Marshall Islands consist of two strings of 29 coral atolls and five islands in the North Pacific between Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. Due to a lack of natural resources and high unemployment rates, the island struggles with poverty and accompanying diseases.

For tourists, the top diseases in the Marshall Islands are Zika virus and typhoid. However, far more diseases inhibit and threaten the lives of those who live on the islands year-round.

Every day, the inhabitants of these islands struggle to remain healthy due to both communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

Communicable Diseases

Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) are some of the top diseases in the Marshall Islands. They are a group of viral, parasitic and bacterial diseases that typically affect impoverished communities that lack proper sanitation.

According to the CDC, NTDs impair physical and cognitive development and can create a cycle of disease and poverty. Examples of neglected tropical diseases include dengue fever, leprosy, rabies and hookworm infection.

Other communicable diseases include Hepatitis, schistosomiasis, meningitis, and Lassa fever. These diseases are hard to control due to poor water supplies, personal hygiene issues, overcrowding and a lack of good medical facilities.

Noncommunicable Diseases

Noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of death in the Marshall Islands. Diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and urogenital, blood and endocrine diseases often develop as a result of reduced mobility and obesity.

In 2011, Pacific health ministers declared that noncommunicable diseases were an urgent crisis in the Pacific Islands. Additionally, the Republic of the Marshall Islands Embassy asserts that the influence of Western culture has led to an increase in consumption of unhealthy food, alcohol and tobacco.

Additionally, the government has recognized the increase in heart conditions and diabetes and is working on ways to influence lifestyle changes and increase access to healthcare.

According to the World Health Organization Country Cooperation Strategy for Marshall Islands (2013-2017), “because of the unique situation of Pacific countries with their limited systems and human resource capacities, it is essential to have modest, realistic and cost effective plans.”

The Marshall Islands have already succeeded in eradicating some vaccine-preventable diseases from the country. A large-scale mass drug administration campaign eliminated lymphatic filariasis in the Marshall Islands on March 30, 2017. Consequently, there is hope for the eradication of even more disease with the necessary cooperation between the government and citizens of the Marshall Islands.

– Madeline Boeding

Photo: Flickr

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10 Facts About MERS-CoV and its Impact On Travelers


Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which was first identified in the Middle East in 2012, is caused by the Coronavirus (therefore called Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus or MERS-CoV). While MERS-CoV has been categorized as low-risk in the U.S., these 10 facts about MERS-CoV will help travelers in making informed judgments about travel and general precautions:

  1. Between 2012 and December 2016, 1,841 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80 percent of which have been from Saudi Arabia.
  2. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a Level 2 Alert, signifying “Practice Enhanced Precautions,” for people traveling to the Arabian Peninsula.
  3. MERS-CoV is communicable in nature. However, it does not easily pass from human to human unless there is close contact, such as in a healthcare setting. Though we still do not know of the virus’s exact communication method, it is thought to be transmitted through an infected person’s respiratory secretions such as coughing.
  4. MERS-CoV is a zoonotic virus, which means that it is transmitted between animals and humans. Studies have shown that the virus has been transmitted to humans through direct or indirect contact with infected dromedary camels.
  5. The WHO recommends that people traveling to the Arabian Peninsula avoid contact with camels and are advised against drinking camel milk or raw camel urine and eating undercooked meat of any kind, especially camel meat.
  6. Once infected, a person shows symptoms like fever and cough with initial clinical features symptomatic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
  7. Outside of the Arabian Peninsula, the largest known outbreak of MERS occurred in the Republic of Korea in 2015. The patient zero for this outbreak was identified as a traveler returning from the Arabian Peninsula.
  8. MERS has been categorized as a very low-risk illness in the U.S. Only two positive cases have ever been reported in the U.S., and both of these cases were among healthcare providers who had worked in the Arabic peninsula.
  9. The mortality rate for MERS-CoV patients is around 35 percent. However, those that died have been known to have an underlying medical condition. Some of the reported pre-existing conditions included cancer, diabetes and chronic lung, heart and kidney disease. In addition, people with weakened immune systems are more likely to be infected or have a severe case of the disease.
  10. Most patients without any underlying pre-existing conditions exhibited mild or no symptoms and made a full recovery.

Since its first reported occurrence in 2012, epidemiologists have been trying to understand the patterns of the virus’s transmission from animals to humans. According to the WHO, the most urgent need is to understand better and identify the risk factors for the virus’s transmission so healthcare environments can be better equipped in case of another outbreak. Regardless, educating communities regarding these facts about MERS-CoV will help in establishing better surveillance and quarantines in the future.

– Jagriti Misra

Photo: Flickr

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Economic Turmoil Brings Back Common Diseases in Venezuela


As Venezuela’s street crime rates rose throughout the Chávez presidency — and as they have continued to do so under President Maduro — its citizens began to fall prey to disease. The spread of common diseases in Venezuela such as hepatitis A and B, typhoid, malaria, rabies and yellow fever echo the rise of corruption in the nation. These diseases are the new normal alongside Venezuela’s crumbling economy.

Over the years, these diseases have waxed and waned in Venezuela. As new vaccinations came out, smaller outbreaks would occur.

Under the Chávez regime — February 2, 1999 to March 5, 2013 — Venezuela suffered a degrading economic collapse. As a result, President Maduro’s administration inherited the damage alongside the leadership.

Venezuela is home to one of the largest oil reserves in the world, and its primary source of export revenue is oil. During Chávez’s presidency, his goal was to use oil revenues to finance a social revolution that would benefit low-income families in Venezuela.

Nevertheless, the country’s corrupt leaders shifted the oil revenue into their personal coffers rather than investing in the poor. Economic chaos rules today’s Venezuela, and a product of this 10-year disarray is the world’s highest rate of inflation. Citizens must line up every morning to obtain such basic goods as rice, beans, cooking oil, toilet paper and toothpaste. These lines mark the streets of Caracas and are known to be the focus of international media.

As of late, the flow of imports has all but stopped. The government, struggling with corruption, cannot pay for imports due to their extreme debt. Venezuela imported everything but oil; now, the country lacks everyday products, including medicines and vaccinations. Consequently, common diseases in Venezuela have returned.

According to the New York Times, the prevalence of malaria in the country is at its highest level in 75 years. Venezuela’s child mortality rate is increasing, presenting a physical manifestation of the nation’s lack of resources.

Diseases once thought to be eliminated (and entirely preventable), such as malaria and diphtheria, are reappearing at alarming rates. These rises in prevalence particularly threaten the health of mothers and newborns during delivery and post-natal care.

There are individuals willing to make a difference in the fight against common diseases in Venezuela. Humanitarian activist Lilian Tintori, for example, has dedicated her life to a revolt against the Chávez regime. She wants to establish a humanitarian channel between the world’s nations and Venezuela to help deliver food, medicine and other necessary products.

Unfortunately, President Nicolas Maduro refuses to address the issue of scarcity and the preventable tropical diseases making a comeback in Venezuela. More emphasis needs to be placed on the government’s assistance in reducing the harm done by the most common diseases in Venezuela.

– Francis Hurtado

Photo: Flickr

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Nine Important Facts About the Highly Fatal Marburg Virus


The Marburg virus disease (MVD) is severe and highly fatal. Albeit rare, MVD is an extremely contagious disease that causes outbreaks with a large number of fatalities. The disease is known have to spread in both in Europe and Africa, affecting a large swathe of different populations. The following nine facts provide details on MVD, one of the most dangerous viruses in the world.

  1. The Marburg virus is named after Marburg, a small town in central Germany, where the disease was first detected in 1967. Traces of the disease were also found in Frankfurt, Germany and Belgrade, in what was formerly Yugoslavia.
  2. However, the disease actually originates from Uganda. German workers at a laboratory in Marburg caught the disease from infected monkeys, which were imported from the African nation.
  3. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or tissue, or the handling of ill or dead infected animals, usually wild.
  4. Fatality rates fluctuate. In the outbreaks between 1998 and 2000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in 2005 in Angola, the fatality rate was as high as 90 percent. The initial outbreak in 1967 had only a 25 percent fatality rate.
  5. The initial symptoms of the illness — mainly severe headaches and malaise — come on very suddenly. Patients can develop eye and nerve problems as well as severe hemorrhages as the illness progresses.
  6. Treatment of the disease is mostly limited to supportive care.
  7. The Marburg virus is classified as a Category A bio-warfare agent by the Center for Disease Control.
  8. The Soviet Union experimented with MVD toward the end of the Cold War, in the 1980s and 1990s, in an attempt to develop a potent biological weapon. Reports claim that Soviet scientists were hoping to load the disease onto a warhead.
  9. Roughly 80 nanometers to 800 nanometers long, the virus can be killed with heat, ultra-violet light and disinfectants such as bleach and Glutaral.

Although there have been no recent outbreaks of the disease, it warrants great caution, particularly in nations with underdeveloped infrastructures for health and treatment. As the statistics of the last outbreaks in Africa evince, fatality rates have proven to be extremely high. The Marburg virus is extremely dangerous and highly contagious, which gives it the potential to do irreparable damage to the population. The international community must be attentive to this disease and ready to help nations who detect the MVD within their borders.

– Alan Garcia-Ramos

Photo: Flickr

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Noncommunicable Illnesses Top List of Major Diseases in Grenada


When working to eliminate poverty, understanding public health concerns in regions such as Grenada is critical. Communicable diseases such as measles, polio and smallpox on this Caribbean island are less common today than they once were as a result of vaccinations and other public health strategies. Noncommunicable and preventative diseases, however, have been of more concern to health workers and government officials in the country.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) have found that the most prevalent diseases in Grenada are, in no particular order:

  • Cancer is a leading cause of death in Grenada. Roughly three percent of Grenadians die from this disease yearly. Prostate cancer is especially deadly, accounting for about 17 percent of those deaths. Local doctors and organizations have strived to raise awareness and money for the Grenada Cancer Society. The annual Walk for the Cure, for example, is hosted by the First Caribbean International Bank and helps give assistance to cancer patients in need.
  • Respiratory diseases and infections are also among the leading causes of death and disability in Grenada. During a 2010 PAHO study of discharge data at St. George’s General Hospital, respiratory illnesses made up 4.9 percent of visits. About 1.5 percent of the population dies yearly from lower respiratory infections, a rate that is significantly higher than that of similar countries. Risk factors include air pollution and tobacco smoke.
  • Cardiovascular diseases are very common in Grenada, and ischemic heart disease is the most common form found in the country. IHME estimates that 2.4 percent of people die yearly from this form of heart disease. And, although fewer people die from it annually, ischemic heart disease still remains a leading cause of death. Those with poor diet or physical inactivity are more at risk of cardiovascular disease. The Grenada Heart Project is critical in raising awareness and helping the sick.
  • Hypertension is among the diseases in Grenada that adults are most commonly diagnosed with. The morbidity rate of hypertension for adults ages 20 to 59 is 7.25 percent and for the elderly is 48.7 percent. In the PAHO hospital study mentioned above, this health problem led to 12.9 percent of hospital visits. Poor diet and physical inactivity are risk factors for hypertension. To reduce the risk of hypertension, the Grenada Food and Nutrition Council recommends better lifestyle choices such as eating healthier, being more physically active and quitting smoking. The Grenada Heart Project also focuses on this issue.
  • Diabetes is another disease that adults are most commonly diagnosed with. Diabetes affects about 9.4 percent of adults ages 20 to 59 and 27 percent of the elderly. About 1.7 percent of Grenadians die from this disease yearly, which is significantly higher than that of similar countries. The PAHO hospital study found that diabetes accounted for 27 percent of doctor’s visits. The risk of this disease has been seen to increase with age and if previously diagnosed in the family. Again, poor diet and physical inactivity are risk factors for diabetes. The Grenada Diabetes Association is a key decision-maker working to decrease the death rates and prevalence of diabetes in the country.
  • Cerebrovascular disease is another leading cause of death and disability in Grenada. Roughly two percent of the population dies every year from this illness, another mortality rate that is significantly higher than that of similar countries. As with many of the above diseases, poor dietary choices and physical inactivity increase chances of cerebrovascular disease.

Many health workers hope that, by addressing obesity, a preventative condition that has become more widespread in the country, they can decrease the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in Grenada such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. One way to combat these health problems is to focus on eating habits and physical activity, both critical factors that affect obesity.

Fighting these diseases in Grenada and around the world has not and will not be easy, but people and organizations are continuing to work together to raise awareness for prevention, treatments and cures.

– Francesca Montalto

Photo: Flickr

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Top Diseases in El Salvador


Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the relatively small country, which has less than seven million citizens. The next leading causes of death include influenza, pneumonia, kidney disease, liver disease and lung disease. El Salvador has a relatively high number of healthcare workers but is still not able to meet the needs of the population with its current healthcare system and the unequal distribution of healthcare workers at different levels of service.

It is important to note that the top diseases in El Salvador and the top causes of death are not the same. Violence against citizens and road traffic accidents are among the top ten causes of death in El Salvador.

Regarding infectious diseases in El Salvador, currently, the Zika virus is still a significant risk to pregnant women in or traveling to El Salvador. The primary method of contraction of this disease is through mosquito bites and sexual exposure. However, these mosquitoes cannot usually survive at elevations above 6,500 feet.

Though not everyone who contracts Zika gets sick, sometimes mild symptoms can last for several days. Occasionally Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) will accompany Zika virus, which entails muscle weakness and paralysis for a few weeks to several months. Research suggests the two are associated.  However, it remains unconfirmed due to the minimal amount of people with Zika virus that also contract GBS.

Hepatitis A and Typhoid can both be contracted through contaminated food or water in El Salvador though they are not among the top causes of death in the country. The risk of malaria contracted through mosquitoes is low, and is preventable with bug sprays.

Though El Salvador has struggled to provide adequate healthcare to its citizens in the past, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MSPAS) has made strides in changing things. Most pressing is the disparity between public and private healthcare systems.

– Ellen Ray

Photo: Flickr

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Fighting Common Diseases in Guatemala

Fighting Common Diseases in GuatemalaCommon diseases in Guatemala include malaria, bacterial diarrhea, and HIV/AIDS. These diseases are common throughout this area of the world. Malaria spreads through mosquitoes, which are common in Central American countries, putting inhabitants at a greater risk for the disease. People in these countries may live in areas without proper sanitation, consequently causing a high prevalence of bacterial diarrhea. HIV/AIDS is common in Guatemala partially due to a lack in sexual education programs.

In certain areas of Guatemala, malaria rates are higher than in other countries. In 2015, there were 6,834 cases of the disease. Since 2005, the government has been fighting the disease with additional funding from the Global Fund. The goal is to nationally eliminate malaria by 2020. In order to avoid bacterial diarrhea, doctors advise individuals to practice good hygiene when using the restroom, maintain clean water, and properly clean food.

Lastly, Guatemala created a comprehensive sexual education plan to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. However, a survey in 2015 showed that only 7 percent of students learned all of the intended points in the program. Another issue with this program is that out of classrooms that taught students about condom usage, 43 percent did so incorrectly. Since STDs and STIs are a common problem in Guatemala, people are pushing for improvement of the sexual education program through better instructor training or a complete reconstruction.

These are a few of the most common diseases in Guatemala. Travelers are warned against malaria and bacterial diarrhea. Additionally, HIV ranks number nine in the top 10 causes of death in Guatemala. Through better education and prevention, the prevalence of these common diseases in Guatemala can significantly drop and the well-being of the people will improve.

– Helen Barker

Photo: Flickr

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Top Diseases in Bulgaria


Located off the coast of the Black Sea in Southeastern Europe and nestled just between Romania and Turkey lies the nation of Bulgaria, a country only slightly larger than the state of Tennessee. Although Bulgaria’s average life expectancy has been climbing steadily, the country still has one of the shortest life expectancies in the European Union at 74.5 years, coming in just ahead of Lithuania and Latvia. Here are some facts about the top diseases in Bulgaria:

Cardiovascular Diseases

Heart diseases–disorders of the blood vessels and heart–are the deadliest of the top diseases in Bulgaria. Currently, such diseases are the cause of over 60 percent of all deaths in the country.

According to a 2015 report published by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the three most fatal heart diseases of the previous decade in Bulgaria were ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and hypertensive heart disease, which were the first, second and third most deadly diseases in Bulgaria respectively. Since 2005, deaths from ischemic heart disease had become 1.9 percent more prevalent, while deaths caused by hypertensive heart disease had become 13.2 percent more prevalent. Deaths due to cerebrovascular disease, on the other hand, had decreased by 1.3 percent.

The World Heart Federation lists controllable risk factors of heart diseases to be, among others, tobacco exposure, harmful consumption of alcohol, physical inactivity and obesity. In 2009, Bulgaria addressed the country’s high prevalence of heart diseases by participating in World Heart Day, providing free cardiology exams across the country.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Following the formerly listed heart diseases, Alzheimer’s disease is the fourth most fatal of the top diseases in Bulgaria. Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia, is a degenerative brain disease in which protein deposits abnormally build up in the brain and, as of 2015, death by Alzheimer’s disease in Bulgaria had become 27.8 percent more common than in the previous decade. According to the World Health Organization, the disease is now the cause of 26.2 percent of all deaths in the country.

Since January 2014, a national policy plan to address dementia in all its forms has been in final review. As of July 2016, there was no finalized national dementia strategy in Bulgaria to address the recent rise in Alzheimer’s disease.

The top diseases in Bulgaria have only just begun to be addressed domestically. With the continuation of direct policy changes and implementation of preventative care, Bulgaria hopes to see reduced instances of heart diseases and Alzheimer’s disease, ultimately increasing their life expectancy.

– Shannon Golden

Photo: Flickr

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Combating the Most Common Diseases in Thailand

Common Diseases in ThailandWith places like Bangkok and Khao Yai National Park, Thailand has become a very popular tourist country. In 2016 alone, the country with a population of more than 68 million people hosted close to 33 million visitors. Alongside its many attractions are some issues, including that diseases in Thailand are a persistent problem. Here are three common diseases in Thailand.

3 Most Common Diseases in Thailand

  1. Dengue: Dengue is a viral disease that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit. Once someone is infected, they become a carrier. There are four strains of the virus. Dengue mostly impacts people in tropical climates. Symptoms include high fever and pain in joints, in muscles and behind the eyes.There is currently no cure. It is recommended to seek professional medical care when experiencing symptoms.According to the World Health Organization, “the America, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions are the most seriously affected” by dengue. The WHO reports 50 to 100 million dengue cases annually. There is now a vaccination for the disease.
  2. HIV/AIDS: HIV is a sexually transmitted infection that weakens the immune system by destroying helper T cells. According to UNAIDS estimates, 440,000 Thai people were living with HIV in 2015.While there is no cure for HIV, there is a treatment known as antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART helps those infected and can even prevent the development of AIDS, which is the last stage of the infection. With the approval of the National AIDS Committee, Thailand is following a plan aimed at eliminating HIV/AIDS in the country by 2030.
  3. Zika Virus: As with dengue, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes spread the Zika virus. It can also be sexually transmitted. According to Reuters, Thailand had around 200 Zika cases from January to September 2016, from January to September. Zika virus is known to cause deformations in newborn babies. For this reason, it is suggested that pregnant women stay away from places where it is prevalent, including Thailand.The people of Thailand are doing what they can to fight Zika virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention trained laboratory workers on how to detect it. There are also surveillance systems that monitor diseases in Thailand, including the Zika virus. There is currently no cure for the Zika virus, but there are tests on a vaccine underway.

These are all presently common diseases in Thailand, but there is significant research being conducted to reduce and eliminate their impact. For now, doctors will continue to assist those affected until their cures are found.

– Raven A. Rentas

Photo: Flickr

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4 Common Diseases in Laos


Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. The Mekong River runs through the mountainous terrain of the county and provides food, a means of transportation and hydroelectric power. Many areas of the country have poor sanitation and lack accessible healthcare. Four common diseases in Laos are Dengue Fever, respiratory infections, ischemic heart disease and diarrheal diseases.

4 Common Diseases in Laos

  1. Dengue Fever: Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted virus. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito transmits the disease and breeds in stagnant water, often in man-made containers. Symptoms of dengue fever are a high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain and eye pain. Around two percent of cases advance to dengue hemorrhagic fever which can be fatal. The number of dengue fever cases and deaths is increasing as a result of urbanization and lack of adequate sanitation. Dengue is the fourth leading cause of death in Laos. The government has run many campaigns to encourage people to remove standing water from their land. This eliminates the breeding areas of mosquitoes that spread the disease.
  2. Respiratory Infections: Lower respiratory infections are also very common in Laos. Influenza and pneumonia cause 13 percent of deaths in Laos. These diseases are most prevalent in June and July because of the rainy season and subtropical climate. Many people in rural Laos do not have access to vaccines. Pregnant women and children have a higher risk of dying from these illnesses. Household pollution contributes to the prevalence of these diseases in Laos. Alternative stoves and heating appliances could help reduce pollution in the home and prevalence of respiratory infections.
  3. Ischemic Heart Disease: Also known as coronary heart disease, ischemic heart disease is another of the most common diseases in Laos. The primary causes of this disease in Laos is dietary risks, high blood pressure, smoking and household air pollution. The number of ischemic heart disease cases is increasing as a result of increasingly poor diets in urban areas. The incidence of heart disease has increased by 33 percent from 1990 to 2010. There is high mortality for this disease in Laos because people do not recognize warning sign of danger or seek necessary medical care. In order to decrease the mortality of the disease, Laos needs to first increase education so that people know when to seek help. Then Laos needs more small health clinics which people can access easily when they feel symptoms.
  4. Diarrheal Diseases: A variety of diarrheal diseases is also very common in Laos. Diarrhea is most deadly in children under five and can be fatal because it causes extreme dehydration. Children can face impaired physical and cognitive development if they survive. Ingesting contaminated food or water causes children to contract this disease. Risk factors for these diseases in Laos are air pollution in the house, being underweight as a child and suboptimal breastfeeding. Research recommends education campaigns in elementary level schools; these will reach a large number of children and these kids can share what they learned with their families. In addition, mothers should breastfeed their children up to two years to improve their children’s nutrition.

The common diseases in Laos are caused by some overlapping features. Laos’ health infrastructure is very small. During the rainy season, roads become inaccessible and people become isolated in their villages without any medical attention. In addition, household pollution contributes to both respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases. Finally, education campaigns focused on transmission and early warning signs are very important.

– Sarah Denning

Photo: Flickr