Polio is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease, most often seen in children under 5 years of age. Transmission of polio is person-to-person, mainly through the fecal-oral route and less frequently via contaminated water or food.
mpox (formerly Monkeypox) virus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, and non-human primates have been found to be susceptible to monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus transmission occurs when a person comes into direct or indirect contact with the body fluids or lesion materials of infected animals and humans, including contaminated materials.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a positive, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus. Found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, West Asia, and North America, WNV is maintained in an enzootic cycle involving a mosquito-bird-mosquito transmission.
Bartonellosis is a group of infectious diseases caused by bacteria within the Bartonella genus. The bacteria are fastidious, aerobic, gram-negative cocci/small rods, and are hemotropic. The bacteria invade erythrocytes and the lining of blood vessels where they then proliferate.
Blastomycosis is a pulmonary, cutaneous or disseminated infection caused by the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis (B. dermatitidis). This fungus exists in mold form in the environment; it produces microscopic fungal spores, particularly in moist soil and in decomposing matter such as wood and leaves.
Ignatzschineria indica (I. indica) infection is caused by myiasis, the infection of human tissue by fly larvae. It is transmitted by the larvae (maggots) of flesh flies (Sarcophaginae) and blow flies (Calliphoridae).
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-COV-2 coronavirus, a virus strain never previously identified in humans. The genetic sequence indicates that it is a betacoronavirus, closely linked to the SARS virus. The government of Canada has issued COVID-19 pandemic guidance for the health sector for federal, provincial and territorial health authorities.
The number of Anaplasmosis infections reported around the world have been steadily increasing since the first reported case of in 1990. Ticks carrying Anaplasma phagocytophilum have been identified in North America, Europe, and Asia, with the highest incidence in North America.
Tularemia is a bacterial disease that can infect animals and people. In North America, this disease is found in wild animals which include rodents, rabbits, muskrats and beavers. Humans can become infected by tick and deer fly bites, through skin contact with infected animals, drinking contaminated water, and inhaling contaminated aerosols or agricultural and landscaping dust.
Brucellosis occurs commonly in areas without effective public health and domestic animal health programs. The biggest risk comes from consuming unpasteurized milk and milk products, which tends to be more common outside of the U.S.A but is also becoming more common all over North America as well.
Powassan virus is a tickborne flavivirus that causes Powassan disease. Many people either develop mild, flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all. The time from tick bite to developing symptoms ranges from 1 week to 1 month. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness. More severe symptoms include confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, and seizures. In some individuals, it can cause a severe disease such as encephalitis or meningitis.
This debrief will focus on HPS/HCPS as this is most common disease in North America NCCID Disease Debriefs provide Canadian public health practitioners and clinicians with up-to-date reviews of essential information on prominent infectious diseases for Canadian public health practice. While not a formal literature review, information is gathered from key sources including the Public…
