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• Meningitis


  Inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord
• Incubation Period


  Between two and 10 days
• Mode of transmission


  1. Bacteria are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers

  2. Smoking, close and prolonged contact – such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters with a carrier – facilitates the spread of the disease
• Meningococcal vaccines


  • Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4)
  • Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)
  • Serogroup B meningococcal vaccine
• Signs and symptoms of meningitis

  • nausea and vomiting
  • fever
  • headache and a stiff neck
  • muscle pain
  • sensitivity to light
  • confusion
  • cold hands or feet and mottled skin
• Diagnosis


  Spinal tap to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• Meningitis treatments


  • Cephalosporins (Claforan, Rocephin)
  • Penicillin-type antibiotics
  • Aminoglycoside drugs (gentamicin)
• Listeriosis


  Serious infection caused by the germ Listeria monocytogenes
• Incubation Period


  1 to over 90 days, average 30 days
• Mode of Transmission


  1. Eating food contaminated with the bacteria, such as through raw (unpasteurized) milk or contaminated vegetables

  2. Bacteria may be passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy or directly to the newborn at the time of birth
• No vaccine for listeriosis
• Signs and Symptoms of listeriosis

  • Headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Confusion or changes in alertness
  • Loss of balance
  • Convulsions
• Diagnosis


  Bacterial culture to grow Listeria monocytogenes from a body tissue or fluid
• Treatment


  Mild cases require no treatment, more serious infections treated with antibiotics
• Tetanus


  Serious infection caused by Clostridium tetani, affects the brain and nervous system
• Incubation Period


  Average 7 to 10 days
• Tetanus is not transmitted from person to person
• Tetanus vaccines


  • DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough)
  • DT (diphtheria, tetanus)
  • Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough)
• Signs and Symptoms of tetanus

  • Stiffness of the neck, jaw, and other muscles
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Fever
  • Sweating
  • Uncontrollable spasms of the jaw (lockjaw) and neck muscles
  • Painful, involuntary contraction of other muscles
• Diagnosis


  Based on physical exam, medical/immunization history, and signs/symptoms
• Tetanus treatments


  • Antitoxin
  • Antibiotics
  • Tetanus vaccine
  • Sedatives
  • Other drugs (magnesium sulfate, beta blockers, morphine)
• Supportive therapies for severe tetanus include ventilator support
• Poliomyelitis (Polio)


  Disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus, spreads from person to person and can infect the spinal cord causing paralysis
• Incubation Period


  1. 6 days for nonparalytic polio, 7-21 days for onset of paralysis in paralytic polio
• Mode of Transmission


  Spread through faeces and saliva, primarily faecal-oral spread, 'live' oral polio vaccine virus can also lead to infection in unvaccinated contacts
• Polio vaccines


  • Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)
  • Oral polio vaccine (OPV)
• Signs and Symptoms of polio

  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Back pain or stiffness
  • Neck pain or stiffness
  • Pain or stiffness in the arms or legs
• Diagnosis


  Recognized by symptoms, confirmed by testing throat secretions, stool, or cerebrospinal fluid for poliovirus
• Treatment


  No cure, supportive treatments like bed rest, pain control, good nutrition, and physical therapy
• Rabies


  Viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals
• Incubation Period


  Generally 20–60 days, can be as short as 5–6 days or as long as 7 years
• Mode of transmission


  Spread through the saliva of infected animals, usually by biting, can also spread through infected saliva in open wounds or mucous membranes
• Rabies vaccines


  • Rabies vaccine
  • Rabies immune globulin (RIG)
• Signs and symptoms of rabies

  • irritability or aggressiveness
  • excessive movements or agitation
  • confusion, bizarre or strange thoughts, or hallucinations
  • muscle spasms and unusual postures
  • seizures (convulsions)
  • weakness or paralysis
• Diagnosis


  In animals - direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test, in humans - multiple tests required
• Rabies treatment


  • Rabies immune globulin shot
  • Series of rabies vaccinations
• Encephalitis


  Inflammation of the brain, most often due to viral infection
• Incubation Period


  4 to 10 days for Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV)
• Mode of Transmission


  Coughs/sneezes releasing airborne viruses, reactivation of dormant viral infections
• Japanese encephalitis vaccine


  • Inactivated Vero cell culture-derived Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine (IXIARO)