Prepping for Pandemics
The most important point about being prepared for a pandemic is that you need to think past the disease. Staying healthy is a big concern but, believe it or not, it’s not the main thing…
Infectious Diseases – Smallpox
Alternative names: red plague Type of infection: viral Incubation period: 7 to 15 days Mortality rate: up to 30% when complications arise Vector: bodily fluid contact History As a disease,…
Infectious Diseases – Malaria
Alternative names: none Type of infection: parasitic Incubation period: 7 to 30 days Mortality rate: up to 20% Vector: mosquito (Anopheles species) History The earliest recorded mention of what is…
Infectious Diseases – Yellow Fever
Alternative names: the yellow plague, yellow jack Type of infection: viral Incubation period: 3 to 6 days Mortality rate: up to 50%, depending on severity. Vector: mosquito (specifically the Aedes aegypti…
Infectious Diseases – Bubonic Plague
Alternative names: black death, black plague Type of infection: bacterial Incubation period: 2 to 6 days Mortality rate: up to 65% if untreated Vector: fleas on mice or rats History…
Infectious Diseases – Anthrax
Alternative names: none Type of infection: bacterial Incubation period: 1 day to 2 months, depending on transmission mode Mortality rate: 50% to 90% Vector: none, cattle or other grazing animals …
Infectious Diseases – SARS
Alternative names: severe acute respiratory syndrome Type of infection: viral Incubation period: 2 to 10 days, usually 2-7 on average Mortality rate: 10% Vector: bodily fluid contact History SARS burst…
Infectious Diseases – Ebola
Alternative names: none Type of infection: viral Incubation period: 5 to 10 days, possibly up to 21 Mortality rate: 60 to 90% depending on the strain Vector: body fluid contact, or…
Infectious Diseases – Ricin
Unlike the illnesses so far listed, ricin is a toxin not a disease. Though it’s not something that you will likely come across in any natural situation, it is a very likely candidate for bio-terrorism….
Infectious Diseases – Measles
Alternative names: none Type of infection: viral Incubation period: 7 to 14 days Mortality rate: less than 1% in healthy patients Vector: airborne History Many early historical descriptions of measles…
