Yes. The World Health Organization estimates that each year 300-500 million cases of malaria occur and more than 1 million people die of malaria. About 1,300 cases of malaria are diagnosed in the United States each year. The vast majority of cases in the United States are in travelers and immigrants returning from malaria-risk areas, many from sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

The World Health Organization estimates that 300 to 500 million cases of malaria occur each year and more than one million people die annually of malaria. About 1,200 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, mostly immigrants and travelers returning from malaria-risk areas. A few cases result from blood transfusions, as passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy, or are transmitted by locally-infected mosquitoes.

No. Malaria is not spread from person to person like a cold or the flu, and it cannot be sexually transmitted. You cannot get malaria from casual contact with malaria-infected people, such as sitting next to someone who has malaria.

In Africa south of the Sahara, the principal malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, transmits malaria very efficiently. The type of malaria parasite most often found, Plasmodium falciparum, causes severe, potentially fatal disease. Lack of resources and political instability can prevent the building of solid malaria control programs. In addition, malaria parasites are increasingly resistant to antimalarial drugs, presenting one more barrier to malaria control in that continent.

Johne's disease occurs worldwide. In the U.S. it is estimated that 7.8% of the beef herds and 22% of the dairy herds are infected with M. paratuberculosis. Infection rates in cattle in other countries are generally similar. The disease has been reported in sheep, goats, elk, deer, bison, llamas and wild ruminants in zoos but accurate estimates of the number of infected animals are not available.

Knowledge on the prevalence of this disease in the approximately 8.5 million sheep and lambs in the U.S. is limited, due both to lack of testing and reporting. However, valuable information on the prevalence of Johne's disease in sheep managed in the United States will be collected through the confidential "Sheep 2001" survey to be conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring System of the USDA. BM_1_(Please consider participating in the survey if asked - the results likely will guide U.S.

Originally considered a rare disease of childhood, celiac disease is now recognized as a common condition that may be diagnosed at any age. Recent studies have revealed an estimated average worldwide prevalence of 1 in 266 and a prevalence of 1 in 133 in the United States. This establishes celiac disease as one of the most common genetically based diseases that physicians will encounter. Because of lack of awareness, celiac disease is still vastly under diagnosed in the U.S.

Yes. Malaria is a leading cause of death and disease worldwide, especially in developing countries. Most deaths occur in young children. For example, in Africa, a child dies from malaria every 30 seconds. Because malaria causes so much illness and death, the disease is a great drain on many national economies. Since many countries with malaria are already among the poorer nations, the disease maintains a vicious cycle of disease and poverty. No, not in all parts of the world.

Neisseria meningitis is the second most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the United States, responsible for 3,000-4,000 cases each year. While meningococcal disease overall remains relatively rare, the number of outbreaks has been on the rise in recent years. Whereas there were only 13 outbreaks during the 12 year period from 1980 to 1991, at least 33 outbreaks hit in just the five years between 1992 and 1996, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Very. According to Dr Peter Lavelle of the ABC, gum disease is the fifth most common health condition in Australia. Gum disease can progress quite painlessly until you have a real problem. That's why it is so important to prevent gum disease before it becomes serious. Chairman of the ADA's Oral Health Education Committee, Dr Don Wilson said that 90% of tooth loss could be attributed to tooth decay or gum disease which meant it was preventable.

The disease is very rare. Most of the 185 cases reported until 1998 have occurred in the Western United States. However, the deer mouse is located throughout most of the United States. No cases have occurred in Missouri. The map below shows the distribution of all hantavirus cases thru May 7, 2003.

Approximately 35% of the 835 million inhabitants in the Region live in areas where there is some possibility that malaria will be transmitted. At the same time, the countries most affected by malaria are not only those with lower GDP but also those with major inequities in terms of income, access to education and health services, environmental quality, and adequate housing for the population.

Malaria does occur in Central America and is something to be more concerned about if you are venturing into more rural areas. There are Malaria tablets that can be taken before and during your visit. Other precautions include keeping covered at Dusk and Dawn and whenever venturing deep into the Jungle. You should consult with your health advisor or Doctor before your visit to make the adequate arrangements. For further information visit www.cdc.gov, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.