Heroes are cool, but it’s really easy to rally around a good villain.

The Lex Luthors. The Hans Grubers. The Lord Voldemorts.

It’s much harder to pinpoint the bad guy when it comes to disease.

While germs and bacteria make up the illness, they don’t provide a visible target to resent.

No, the blame and contempt for an epidemic often falls on “patient zero”.

This is how we get legends like Typhoid Mary. Vilified for carrying the deadly disease throughout New York, even though she had no idea what her actions could create.

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The image of a pus-filled lesion can bring up many reactions. Most often, someone may feel revulsion, disgust or even nausea.

But, for soldiers fighting in the trenches during the Civil War, those lesions could inspire hope.

Not hope in the war efforts, but for their own safety.

The violent battles may get attention for causing death in the Civil War, but disease was the real danger. Typhoid fever, measles and tuberculosis were among the many deadly viruses that killed more than the war itself.

Among the most dangerous of these diseases was smallpox.

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From Zika to measles, Brazil has experience in handling outbreaks over the last few years.

That history may be helpful with the yellow fever outbreak spreading throughout the country.

Brazil reported 70 yellow fever cases this year as of January 24, according to the World Health Organization.

The virus caused 40 deaths so far and hundreds of possible cases are under investigation.

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Like a vintage rock band ready to start a reunion tour, measles are about to make a comeback.

At least, that’s the worry of researchers monitoring disease control.

But first, let’s back up a bit.

Throughout the 1900s, measles was like chicken pox in its near certainty for contraction. The disease was highly contagious and children were likely to get measles at some point during adolescence.

In the 1960s, doctors made a breakthrough, crafting a vaccine for the disease. After some quick improvements, the measles vaccine earned a reputation for effectiveness. It is now widely recommended.

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For those who frequently travel, taking a trek on your own offers a new level of foreign freedom.

This eliminates all discussions for where to eat, what sights to see and how to spend down time.

But, what you gain in freedom, you may give up in feeling safe during that solo international trip.

The stories are unfortunately far too common. Whether it’s in the form of assault, verbal abuse or some other violent act. There are many reports of independent travelers facing dangers around the world.

This is not to say that people should avoid traveling. Only that to ensure a safer trip, you might want to take some extra precautions.

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