Diseases

Question 1

Define a zoonotic disease

Answer 1

Infectious diseases that can be transferred from animals to humans

Question 2

Case study - rabies

Answer 2

Caused by lyssavirus and causes acute encephalitis. It is almost always fatal, and causes 55,000 human deaths a year

Question 3

Case study - plagues

Answer 3

Justinian plague in 540-750AD wiped out 50% of the population of Europe. Black death C14 to C18 killed 33% of the European population. Vectors tend to be fleas and rats

Question 4

Case study - bovine TB

Answer 4

Badgers transmit to cattle, so have been subject to culls but this has been found to be not effective enough to justify the massive costs and time requirements involved . Exclusion measures and vaccines most effective but not always easy

Question 5

Case study - ebola

Answer 5

Reservoirs in bats and monkey, bush meat transfers it to humans and can cause massive outbreaks