Disease & Epidemic

Many diseases occur naturally. Health care professionals are constantly on alert for patterns or spread of certain diseases because they can create epidemics. Unfortunately, not all diseases are spread naturally. Bioterrorism is the intentional spread of viruses, bacteria and other germs resulting in widespread disease. Category A biological agents are used in attacks because they cause the most illness and death among humans, they include: Anthrax, Botulism, Smallpox, Plague, Tularemia and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. It could be hours or even days before evidence of Bioterrorism rises to the surface. It's critical to listen to public health officials as they will recommend the best course of action to take during such an incident. By following their directions, you may save your life.

Click a link to jump to a section below:

• Anthrax
• Flu ( Influenza or Human Flu )
• Influenza (Avian Flu)
• Influenza (Swine Flu)
• Isolation and Quarantine
• Botulism
• Chagas Disease
• Dengue Fever
• Hantavirus
  
• Malaria
• Murine Typhus
• Norovirus
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
• Plague
• Rabies
• Smallpox
  
• Tick borne Diseases
• Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
• West Nile Virus
• Zoonoses: Prevent and Protect

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Anthrax

1. Anthrax Fact Sheet
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   
   
2. Anthrax Basics
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   
   
3. Best Management Practices for Equine Disease Prevention
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   

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Flu ( Influenza or Human Flu )

1. Texas EDEN Flu Resources
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   
   
   • Flu Fact Sheets
     
     
   • Flu Videos
     
   
   
2. TexasFlu.org
   
   
• Materials including fliers, stickers, videos and banners
  
  
• Flu Fighters
  
  
• Protecting Yourself During Flu and Cold Season
  
  
3. Flu.gov
   
   
4. National EDEN (eden.lsu.edu)
   
   
• Pandemic Influenza
  
  
5. RedCross.org
   
   
   • Flu
     
     
6. The Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov)
   
   
• Seasonal Flu
  
  
• Flu Shot - Questions & Answers
  
  
• The Flu - A Guide for Parents
  
  
• Influenza Symptoms, Protection, and What to Do If You Get Sick
  
  
• Key Facts about Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
  
  
• Free Flu Materials
  
  
• Seasonal Flu: A Guide for Parents
  
  
  
  

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Influenza (Avian Flu)

1. Biosecurity Can Save Dollars (pdf)
   
   
2. Bio Security for the Birds
   U.S.D.A.
   
   
3. EDEN Avian Influenza Issue Page
   Provides: introduction, advice to flock owners and resources
   
   
4. H7N9
   National Extension Disaster Education Network
   

 

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Influenza (Swine Flu)

1. Biosecurity Can Save Dollars (pdf)
   
   
2. Checklist: Biosecurity Practices for Swine Shows
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   
   
3. Biosecurity for Swine Producers
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   
   
4. Checklist: Biosecurity Practices for Swine Validation
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   
   
5. Influenza H3N2v: Key Facts for People Exhibiting Pigs at Fairs
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   
   
6. Additional Flu Posters for Fair Season
   
   
• How to be safe around animals
• Reduce risk
• Stow strollers before entering
• Wash hands and keep animals healthy
  
  
7. Swine Influenza
   National Extension Disaster Education Network
   

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Isolation and Quarantine

1. Quarantine and Isolation Fact sheet
   Created by Carol A. Rice, PhD, RN
   Family Development and Resource Management
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, The Texas A&M University System
   
   
2. Understand Quarantine & Isolation
   CDC.gov

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Botulism

1. Facts About Botulism
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   
   
2. Content Related to Botulism
   Texas Department of State Health Services

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Chagas Disease

1. Chagas Disease
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   
   
2. Chagas (Trypanosomiasis-American)
   The Center for Food Security and Public Health

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Dengue Fever

1. Dengue Fever
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   
   
2. Dengue Fever
   Texas Department of State Health Services

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Hantavirus

1. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   
   
2. Hantavirus
   The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
   
   Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
   
   Hantavirus HPS Brochure (pdf)
   
   Hantavirus Prevention
   
   Hantavirus Airborne Transmission
   
   
3. Help Yourself to a Healthy Home - Booklet (pdf)
   The Department of Housing and Urban Development
   
   Integrated Pest Management - Booklet (pdf)
   
   7 Steps to a Healthy Home (pdf)
   
   
4. Hantavirus
   U.S. National Library of Medicine
   
   
5. Hantavirus diseases
   World Health Organization
   

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Malaria

1. Malaria FAQs
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   
   
2. Malaria
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   

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Murine Typhus

1. Murine Typhus (Fleaborne Typhus)
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   
   
2. Typhus
   PubMed Health
   

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Norovirus

1. Norovirus Infection
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   
   
2. Norovirus
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   
   
3. Norovirus Symptoms
   Mayo Clinic
   
   
4. Causes & Symptoms of Norovirus Infection
   Minnesota Department of Health
   
   
5. Norovirus (Norwalk Virus)
   FoodSafety.gov
   

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Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

1. Texas EDEN Whooping Cough Resources
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   

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Plague

1. Plague Information
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   
   
2. Plague
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   

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Rabies

1. Rabies
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   National Center for Infectious Diseases

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Smallpox

1. Smallpox Disease Information
   Centers for Disease Control
   
   
2. What you need to know about Smallpox
   Texas Department of State Health Services

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Tick borne Diseases

1. Types of Tick borne Diseases
   National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
   
   
2. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (pdf)
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   
   
3. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
   Centers for Disease Control
   
   
4. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
   PubMed Health
   
   
5. Tularemia
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   
   
6. What you need to know about Tularemia
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   
   
7. Lyme Disease
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   
   
8. Lyme Disease (Lyme Borreliosis)
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   

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Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

1. Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
   Centers for Disease Control
   
   
2. What you need to know about Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   

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West Nile Virus

1. West Nile Virus: Fight the Bite!
   Centers for Disease Control
   
   
2. Mosquito Control Options & Gimmicks
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   
   
3. Mosquito Control Videos
   Insects in the City, Texas AgriLife Urban Solutions Center at Dallas
   
   
   • Mosquito Control – Protecting Yourself
     Reduce your risk of mosquito bites by using a good repellent. This video describes why you should use repellent and (at the end) lists repellents that are currently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.
   • Mosquito Control – Stopping mosquitoes at the front door
     One of the ways people may be bitten by mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus is when tiny mosquitoes enter the home through doorways. This video discusses some simple options for reducing this risk.
   • Mosquito Control – Preventing Mosquitoes
     Many homeowners create their own backyard mosquito problem by allowing water to stand in hidden sites. This video offers tips for spotting and eliminating mosquito breeding sites.
   • Mosquito Control – Control Options
     Pyrethroid insecticides provide options for short- and long-term mosquito control in home landscapes. Be sure to follow the label and apply pesticides in the evening to minimize risks to beneficial insects.
     
     
4. Mosquito Prevention Tips for School Districts
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   
   
5. Managing Mosquitos After a Flood
   Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
   
   
   • Mosquito Control around the Home ( E33 ) ( En Español )
     
     
   • Mosquitoes and the Diseases They Transmit ( B6119 )
     
     
   • Mosquito Pesticides & Insecticides
     
     
   • Potential Mosquito Problems After a Hurricane
     
     
   • The Best Way to Control Mosquitoes
     
     
   • The Mosquito Life-Cycles
     
     
6. Texas West Nile Virus Map ( USA Map )
   U.S. Geological Survey
   
   
7. West Nile Virus
   National Extension Disaster Education Network
   
   
8. West Nile Virus Resources
   Texas Department of State Health Services
   
   
9. The Insect Repellent DEET
   The United States Environmental Protection Agency
   

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Zoonoses: Prevent and Protect

1. PDF Fact Sheet:
   
   Prevent the Spread of Zoonotic Diseases ( En Español )
   
   
2. PDF Presentation:
   
   Zoonotic Disease & Prevention
   
   
3. Marketing Brochure available for order from the Texas AgriLife Bookstore:
   
   MKT-5001 Prevent the Spread of Zoonotic Diseases ( En Español )