The list of especially dangerous infections includes those diseases that are characterized by a special epidemic danger, i.e. are capable of mass distribution among the population. They are also characterized by severe current, high risk of lethality and can form the basis of biological weapons of mass destruction. Consider what infections are listed as extremely dangerous, and also how you can protect yourself from infection.
Especially dangerous infections and their pathogens
In the world medicine there are no uniform standards about what infections should be considered to be especially dangerous. The lists of such infections are different in different regions, can be supplemented with new diseases and, on the contrary, exclude some infections.
Currently, domestic epidemiologists adhere to the list, which includes 5 especially dangerous infections:
- anthrax;
- cholera ;
- plague;
- Tularemia;
- yellow fever (and also similar fevers of Ebola and Marburg).
anthrax
Zoonotic infection, i.e. transmitted to man from animals. The causative agent of the disease is the spore-forming bacillus, which has been preserved in the soil for decades. The source of infection is sick domestic animals (large and small cattle, swine, etc.). Infection can occur in one of the following ways:
- contact;
- air-dust;
- alimentary;
- transmissible.
The disease has a short incubation period (up to 3 days). Depending on the clinical picture of anthrax, there are three types of anthrax:
- skin;
- gastrointestinal;
- pulmonary.
Cholera
Acute bacterial disease, belonging to the group of intestinal infections. The causative agent of this infection is the cholera vibrio, which is well preserved at low temperatures and in the aquatic environment. Sources of infection are a sick person (including at the stage of recovery) and a vibrio carrier. Infection occurs by the fecal-oral route.
The incubation period of the disease is up to 5 days. Especially dangerous is cholera, which flows in an erased or atypical form.
Plague
An acute infectious disease characterized by extremely high infectiousness and a very high probability of death. The causative agent is a plaque, which is transmitted by sick people, rodents and insects (fleas, etc.). Plague wand is very resistant, withstands low temperatures. The transmission paths are different:
- transmissible;
- air-drip.
There are several forms of plague, the most common of which are pulmonary and bubonic. The incubation period can be up to 6 days.
Tularemia
Natural-focal infection, which is particularly dangerous, has recently become known to mankind. The causative agent is an anaerobic tularemia bacillus. The reservoirs of infection are rodents, some mammals (hares, sheep, etc.), birds. At the same time, sick people are not contagious. There are following ways of infection:
- transmissible;
- respiratory;
- contact;
- alimentary.
The incubation period, on average, is 3 to 7 days. There are several forms of tularemia:
- intestinal;
- bubonic;
- generalized;
- ulcer-bubonic and others.
Yellow fever
Especially dangerous virus infection, similar to malaria. The causative agent is arbovirus, transmitted through mosquito bites. Ebola and Marburg fevers are caused by filoviruses, carried by African green monkeys and certain species of bats. Infection occurs in the following ways:
- air-drip;
- contact.
Prevention of especially dangerous infections
The most important in the system of antiepidemic prevention of especially dangerous infections is personal prophylaxis, which provides for:
- use is guaranteed of safe water and beverages;
- thorough washing of fruits and vegetables;
- taking only the thermally processed food;
- bathing in specially designated places;
- observance of rules of personal hygiene, etc.
Vaccination should also be carried out whenever possible.