Viral outbreaks are one of the most dangerous natural disasters that humans face. Scientists use disease information to predict when these outbreaks are going to start. New technology and methods make this a greater possibility.

A breakthrough in this process occurred last year with a new partnership. The New York University Tandon School of Engineering and the Polytechnic University of Turin worked together on outbreak management. The two schools created a model to better use vaccine strategies during an outbreak. The model will show the effectiveness of disease prevention.

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In April 2017, the World Health Organization reported that over 489 people had died from a meningitis outbreak in Nigeria, with over 4,600 suspected cases in the country. Earlier this year, the International Coordinating Group and WHO have sent 341,000 doses of the meningitis vaccine to the area.

However, since April, the disease is still spreading and the death toll has now risen to over 1,100.

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Alexander The Great remains one of the most infamous and talked about figures in history. We know so much about his conquers around the world, but so little about what caused his death. There are many theories out there as to what brought this man to his downfall, but no one knows for sure. The most realistic theories of his death involve disease and viruses.

Malaria and Typhoid

Both of these diseases were common and rampant throughout Ancient Babylon, which would have made Alexander easily susceptible.

Transferred by mosquitoes, the symptoms of both malaria and typhoid are consistent with Alexander’s symptoms right before his death.

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Although malaria has been eradicated in the United States, it still is very much alive in U.S. hospitals and in hospitals around the world.

Although no cases of malaria have originated in America since the 1950s, malaria still exists in the country due to travelers that come back to the states with the disease.

Why Is Malaria Present in U.S. Hospitals?

A study done by The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was released earlier in April that indicated that there are still over 1,500 cases of malaria in U.S. hospitals each year. In this study, researchers looked at statistics in hospitals over a fourteen year span, from 2000-2014.

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Cholera is considered a disease that tends to fall by the wayside. It seems to only get attention during times of a terrifying outbreak.

Thanks to a cholera epidemic in Haiti, the disease has been getting plenty of attention since 2010.

But, should all travelers be worried about cholera? Should you even prepare for the disease if you aren’t heading to Haiti?

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