04 Jan 6 exotic diseases that are closer than you may think

Pandemics are epidemic or infectious diseases spreading through human populations. Black death or flu have taken many lives in history. Nowadays, pandemics are more controlled thanks to a better medicine research. Nevertheless – due to globalisation, the increased human travel and the climate change – a disease starting in an exotic place as Congo can be spread into a small Polish village within a few hours.

Here are some diseases that started in different parts of the Earth you might get infected by.

Sleeping sickness

A protozoan found in West and Central Africa, can be transmitted by tsetse flies. The most representative symptoms are related to sleeping failures, loss of coordination and confusion. If this disease is not treated, it may result in death. According to scientific experts, climate change will increase the number of cases.

Bird flu

Also known as avian influenza, is caused by virus H5N1. Symptoms are very assorted, as conjunctivitis, pneumonia or respiratory failure. Such disease is transmitted to humans by infected birds and around 50% of humans suffering from bird flu end in death.

Chagas disease

Around 7 million people suffer from changas; a disease starting in rural South America that can be transmitted by placental transmission, blood transfusion or consumption of contaminated food. Symptoms are related to chronic infections, headache or swollen lymph glands. If not treatment is followed, this disease leads to a progressive deterioration of digestive muscle and heart.

Chikungunya fever

This Asian virus started in India and is passed by the invasion of Aedes mosquitoes. Chikungunya can cause muscle and joint pain, together with the progressive tissue deterioration.

West Nile virus

This virus was originated around Tunisia, Egypt and Israel. Such disease includes some flu-like symptoms, but also severe neurological diseases. Death rate is very low, but it exists around 100 cases confirming this possibility.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

This is a tick-borne disease that can be transmitted to humans. Symptoms progress from fever or headaches to vomits. A sudden pulmonary, kidney or liver failure may result in death.

Be careful. Do not get infected by!