Viral diseases

• Measles is a viral disease showing symptoms of a fever and a red skin rash
• Most children are vaccinated against measles because measles is a serious illness that can be fatal if complications arise
• Measles is spread by the inhalation of droplets from sneezes and coughs
• HIV causes flu like illnesses, then the virus attacks the body’s immune cells
• HIV can be controlled successfully with antiretroviral drugs
• When the body’s immune system becomes so badly damaged, this can lead to late stage HIV infection or AIDS. So it can no longer deal with other infections or cancer.
• HIV is spread by:

  • sexual contact
  • exchange in body fluids such as blood, occurs when drug users share needles
• Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is a widespread plant pathogen that affects many species of plants ie tomatoes
• TMV gives a mosaic pattern of discolouration on the leaves which affects the growth of the plant due to a lack of photosynthesis.
• Viral diseases:

  • HIV
  • TMV
  • Measles