Most people know this condition by its popular names pink eye and Apollo, but did you know there are many things that cause it? Name Conjunctivitis also known as apollo, pink eye, and Madras eye Transmission A common condition of the eye that has several forms depending on the cause:... read more →
Oct
28
Oct
21
The world has almost eliminated polio which has no cure and can permanently cripple or kill you Name Polio (full name: poliomyelitis) Transmission A highly infectious disease caused by a virus (poliovirus) The virus invades the brain and spinal cord and can cause total paralysis in hours The poliovirus lives... read more →
Oct
15
Today, October 15th is Global Handwashing Day! To celebrate, we partnered with Ikeja Electric and Kleanmate to visit 6 schools and had more than 1,100 students all over Lagos state washing their hands at the same time. As usual, our goal was to use our #ItStartsWithMe campaign to educate students on the... read more →
Oct
14
Did you know eating too much raw cassava can paralyze you and affect your memory? Name Konzo (means “bound legs” in the Yaka language) aka mantakassa Transmission Though it is not an infectious disease, konzo is a neglected disease and has been known to cause outbreaks and epidemics Konzo is... read more →
Oct
07
Known as crypto, this is a diarrheal disease caused by microscopic parasites Name Cryptosporidiosis aka crypto Transmission A contagious diarrheal disease caused by parasites called Cryptosporidium The parasites live in water, food, soil, and on skin and contaminated surfaces Once they enter a human or animal, they live in the digestive system... read more →
Sep
30
This disease is named for the Rift Valley in Kenya where it was discovered ame Rift Valley fever Transmission A severe mosquito-borne disease that primarily affects animals but can also infect humans The virus is most commonly found in animals such as camels, goats, cattle, sheep, and buffalo Humans get... read more →
Sep
26
Last week we attended the Future of Health Conference 2016 in Abuja, Nigeria. The theme this year was Health Meets Tech so attendees included everyone from health practitioners and government to tech entrepreneurs and NGOs. The rich discussions during the conference centered on the use of technology to solve challenges in the... read more →
Sep
23
Scabies, also known as the seven-year itch, is caused by a parasite that buries itself in your skin Name Scabies aka the seven-year itch (this nickname comes from the fact that it can be hard to get rid of) Transmission An infestation of the skin by itch mites (microscopic bugs)... read more →
Sep
20
We’ve already defined “preparedness” for infectious disease outbreaks so now that we know what it is, the question is should countries prepare? And if so, how? Let’s start with some reasons why countries should prepare for potential outbreaks: OLD AND NEW INFECTIONS: There are so many new/emerging and reemerging infectious diseases all... read more →
Sep
19
On Thursday we attended a lecture and award presentation for Dr. Ernest Madu, a Nigerian clinician and leader in global health. Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania’s newly launched Center for Global Health (DRASA is collaborating with the Center for our infectious diseases simulation training), the event was held in Philadelphia,... read more →