How To Avoid Human Viral Diseases

As much as possible we want to stay in the pink of health. We spend money to buy foods that promote our health. We exercise to boost our immune system. And a whole lot more. However, no matter what we do, we just can't avoid getting sick.

On top of eating healthful foods and doing regular exercise, it is also better to come to know the different viral diseases, where to get them, and how to avoid them.

The term virus is the Latin word for poison, given this we know that it may be fatal. Viruses reach our body in several ways to wit: by direct contact, by indirect contact as by touching objects, and by inhaling particles spread by coughing or sneezing.

Take a look at the list below to find out the different viral diseases and their respective characteristics.

SARS

Corona Virus

Reservoir hosts: masked palm civets

AIDS

HIV (Retrovirus)

Destroys immune system; claims more than 3 million lives each year through infected blood or other body fluids

Rabies

Rhabdovirus

Acquired through bite of infected dogs, foxes, wolves, bats, raccoons, etc.

Hepatitis B

Hepa B

Acquired through intake of infected body fluids

Oral Herpes

Herpes virus

Acquired through intake of infected saliva

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

Orthomyxovirus

Transmitted by birds (e.g. ducks, chickens)

Measles

Paramyxovirus

Spreads in fluid from the nose or mouth and in airborne droplets

Mumps

Paramyxovirus

Acquired through infected saliva

Polio

Poliovirus

Affects CNS, leads to paralysis

Yellow fever

Flavivirus

Transmitted through infected mosquito bite

German measles

Togaviruses

Inhalation of airborne droplets, intake of infected body fluids, discharges, wastes of infected person; transmitted to the unborn through the placenta

Equine encephalomyelitis

Reovirus

Reservoir hosts: turkeys, chickens, sparrows, pigeons, pheasants, gulls; occasionally through mosquito bite

Ebola (Acute H fever)

Filovirus

Acquired through intake of infected body fluids; early symptoms similar to flu or dysentery; virus easily mutates leading to rapid evolution of new strains