viral disease and global health Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is the genetic material of viruses contained within?
A coat or ‘capsid’, made of individual protein molecules (‘capsomeres’)
The complete unit of nucleic acid and capsid is known as the ‘nucleocapsid’.
What is the time range for the replication cycle of bacterial viruses?
20-60 minutes
Animal virus replication cycles can take 8-40 hours.
What are the four classifications of the occurrence of infectious diseases?
- Sporadic
- Endemic
- Epidemic
- Pandemic
What is the definition of a pandemic?
An epidemic occurring in or spreading over several countries
What challenges do viral infections pose to global health?
Widespread illness, economic burden, strain on healthcare systems
What are the three factors of the epidemiological triad?
- Environment
- Agent
- Host
What is Dengue fever?
A mosquito-borne viral infection that poses a considerable threat to public health worldwide
In how many countries is Dengue fever endemic?
Over 100 countries
What factors contribute to the expansion of the Dengue virus distribution?
- Urbanization
- Population movement
- Climate change
What is the estimated number of annual Dengue infections worldwide?
390 million
What are the severe manifestations of Dengue fever?
- Plasma leakage
- Severe bleeding
- Organ impairment
What is Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)?
A severe form of Dengue characterized by plasma leakage, severe bleeding, and organ impairment
What economic impacts does Dengue fever have?
- Healthcare expenditures
- Loss of productivity due to illness and disability
- Costs associated with vector control
What are the pathogenic mechanisms leading to high incidence of Dengue?
- Vector mediated transmission
- Viral replication and immune response
- Clinical manifestation
What is the Ebola virus classified as?
A filovirus: enveloped, non-segmented, negative-stranded RNA virus
What species caused the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak?
Zaire ebolavirus species
How is the Ebola virus transmitted?
- Direct contact with blood or body fluids of symptomatic patients
- Sharps injury with contaminated needles
- Spill-over from infected wild animals
- Contact with corpses of Ebola victims
What are the early clinical presentation signs of Ebola virus disease?
- Fever
- Chills
- Myalgias
- Malaise
- Anorexia
What are possible infectious causes of symptoms similar to Ebola?
- Malaria
- Typhoid fever
- Meningococcemia
- Lassa fever
What are common laboratory findings in Ebola virus disease?
- Thrombocytopenia
- Leukopenia followed by neutrophilia
- Elevated transaminases
- Electrolyte abnormalities
What diagnostic method is used for acute Ebola virus infection?
Real Time PCR (RT-PCR)
What is the minimum volume of whole blood required for RT-PCR testing?
4 mL
