Particularly dangerous infections (EDI) or infectious diseases are diseases that are characterized by a high degree of infectivity. They appear suddenly and spread quickly, have a severe clinical picture and a high degree of mortality. What kind of pathologies are these, and what preventive measures to take to avoid getting infected, read on.

What kind of list is this?

Particularly dangerous infections include a conditional group of acute infectious human diseases that correspond to two characteristics:

• may appear suddenly, spread quickly and massively;
• are severe and have a high mortality rate.

The list of DPOs was first presented at the 22nd session of the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 26, 1969. In addition to the list, the assembly also established the International Health Regulations (IHR). They were updated in 2005 at the 58th session of WHO.

According to the new amendments, the Assembly has the right to draw conclusions about the state of certain diseases in the country both from official state reports and from media reports.

WHO has received significant powers for medical regulation of infectious diseases caused by acute respiratory infections.

It is important to note that today in world medicine there is no concept of “OOI”. This term is predominantly used in the CIS countries, but in world practice, AIOs mean infectious diseases that are included in the list of events that may pose an excessive danger in the health care system on an international scale.

List of DPOs

The World Health Organization has compiled a list of more than a hundred diseases that can quickly and massively spread among the population. Initially, according to data from 1969, this list included only 3 diseases:

• plague;
• cholera;
• anthrax.

However, later the list was significantly expanded and all the pathologies that were included in it were conditionally divided into 2 groups:
1. Diseases that are unusual and may affect public health. These include:

• smallpox;
• human influenza;
• polio;
• severe acute respiratory syndrome.

2. Diseases, any manifestation of which is assessed as a threat, since these infections can have a serious impact on public health and can quickly spread internationally. This also includes diseases that represent a regional or national problem. These include:

• cholera;
• pneumonic plague;
• yellow fever;
• hemorrhagic fevers (Lassa, Marburg, Ebola, West Nile fever);
• dengue fever;
• Rift Valley fever;
• meningococcal infection.

In Russia, two more infections have been added to these diseases - anthrax and tularemia.

All these pathologies are characterized by severe course, high risk of mortality and, as a rule, form the basis for biological weapons of mass destruction.

Classification of especially dangerous infections

All OI are classified into three types:

1. Conventional diseases. Such infections are subject to international sanitary regulations. This:

• bacterial pathologies (plague and cholera);
• viral diseases (monkeypox, hemorrhagic viral fevers).

2. Infections that require international surveillance, but are not subject to joint activities:

• bacterial (typhoid and relapsing fever, botulism, tetanus);
• viral (HIV, polio, influenza, rabies, foot and mouth disease);
• protozoans (malaria).

3. Not subject to WHO supervision, are under regional control:

• anthrax;
• tularemia;
• brucellosis.

The most common OOIs

The most common dangerous infections should be considered separately.

Plague

An acute, particularly dangerous disease that is classified as a zoonotic infection. The source and distributor of the infection are rodents (mainly rats and mice), and the causative agent is the plague bacillus, which is resistant to environmental conditions. Plague is transmitted primarily through transmission through flea bites. From the onset of the disease, it occurs in an acute form and is accompanied by general intoxication of the body.

Distinctive symptoms include:

• intense fever (temperature can rise to 40°C);
• unbearable headache;
• the tongue becomes covered with a white coating;
• facial hyperemia;
• delirium (in advanced cases, when the disease is not treated correctly);
• expression of suffering and horror on the face;
• hemorrhagic rashes.

Plague is treated with antibiotics (streptomycin, terramycin). The pulmonary form always ends in death, as acute respiratory failure occurs - the patient dies within 3-4 hours.

Acute intestinal infection with a severe clinical picture, high mortality rate and increased prevalence. The causative agent is Vibrio cholerae. Infection occurs mainly through contaminated water.

Symptoms:

• sudden profuse diarrhea;
• profuse vomiting;
• decreased urination due to dehydration;
• dryness of the tongue and oral mucosa;
• decrease in body temperature.

The success of therapy largely depends on the timeliness of the diagnosis. Treatment involves taking antibiotics (tetracycline) and copious intravenous administration of special solutions to replenish the deficiency of water and salts in the patient’s body.

Black pox

One of the most highly contagious infections on the planet. It is an anthroponotic infection and only affects people. The transmission mechanism is airborne. The source of the smallpox virus is considered to be an infected person. The infection is also transmitted from an infected mother to her fetus.

Since 1977, not a single case of smallpox infection has been reported! However, blackpox viruses are still stored in bacteriological laboratories in the USA and Russia.

Symptoms of infection:

• sudden increase in body temperature;
• sharp pain in the lumbar and sacrum areas;
• rash on the inner thighs, lower abdomen.

Treatment of smallpox begins with immediate isolation of the patient, the basis of therapy is gamma globulin.

Yellow fever

Acute hemorrhagic transmissible infection. Source: monkeys, rodents. The carriers are mosquitoes. Distributed in Africa and South America.

Symptoms of the disease:

• redness of the skin of the face and neck in the first stage of the disease;
• swelling of the eyelids and lips;
• thickening of the tongue;
• lacrimation;
• pain in the liver and spleen, an increase in the size of these organs;
• redness gives way to yellowness of the skin and mucous membranes.

If the diagnosis is not made in a timely manner, the patient’s well-being worsens every day, bleeding from the nose, gums and stomach is noted. Possible death from multiple organ failure. The disease is easier to prevent than to treat, so vaccination of the population is carried out in areas where cases of pathology are frequent.

The infection is zoonotic and is considered a weapon of mass destruction. The causative agent is a stationary bacillus that lives in the soil, from where animals become infected. Cattle are considered the main carrier of the disease. The routes of human infection are airborne and alimentary. There are 3 types of disease, which will determine the symptoms:

• Cutaneous. The patient develops a spot on the skin, which over time turns into an ulcer. The disease is severe and can be fatal.
• Gastrointestinal. The following signs are noted: sudden increase in body temperature, bloody vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea. As a rule, this form is lethal.
• Pulmonary. It proceeds in the most difficult way. There is a high temperature, bloody cough, and disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. A few days later the patient dies.

Treatment consists of taking antibiotics, but more importantly, administering a vaccine that prevents infection.

Tularemia

Bacterial zoonotic infection. Source: rodents, cattle, sheep. The causative agent is a gram-negative rod. The mechanism of penetration into the human body is contact, nutritional, aerosol, transmission.

Symptoms:

• heat;
• general malaise;
• pain in the lower back and calf muscles;
• skin hyperemia;
• damage to the lymph nodes;
• macular or petechial rash.

Compared to other AIOs, tularemia is treatable in 99% of cases.

Flu

The list of dangerous infectious diseases includes avian influenza, a severe viral infection. The source of infection is migratory waterfowl. A person can become ill if they do not properly care for infected birds or if they eat the meat of infected birds.

Symptoms:

• high fever (can last up to several weeks);
• catarrhal syndrome;
• viral pneumonia, from which the patient dies in 80% of cases.

Quarantine infections

This is a conditional group of infectious diseases for which quarantine of one degree or another is imposed. It is not equivalent to OI, but both groups include many infections that require the imposition of strict state quarantine with the involvement of military forces in order to limit the movement of potentially infected people, to protect areas of infection, etc. Such infections include, for example, smallpox and pulmonary plague.

It is worth noting that WHO has recently made several statements that it is inappropriate to impose strict quarantine when cholera occurs in a particular country.

The following methods for diagnosing OI are distinguished:

1. Classic:

• microscopy - the study of microscopic objects under a microscope;
• polymerase chain reaction (PCR);
• agglutination reaction (RA);
• immunofluorescence reaction (RIF, Koons method);
• bacteriophage test;
• bioassay on an experimental animal whose immunity is artificially reduced.

2. Accelerated:

• pathogen indication;
• pathogen antigens (AG);
• reverse passive hemagglutination reaction (RPHA);
• coagglutination reaction (RCA);
• enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

Prevention

Prevention of acute respiratory infections is carried out at the highest level in order to prevent the spread of diseases throughout the state. The complex of primary preventive measures includes:

• temporary isolation of the infected person with further hospitalization;
• making a diagnosis, convening a consultation;
• taking anamnesis;
• providing first aid to the patient;
• collection of material for laboratory research;
• identification of contact persons, their registration;
• temporary isolation of contact persons until their infection has been ruled out;
• carrying out current and final disinfection.

Depending on the type of infection, preventive measures may vary:

• Plague. In natural foci of distribution, observations of the number of rodents, their examination and deratization are carried out. In the surrounding areas, the population is being vaccinated with a dry live vaccine subcutaneously or cutaneously.
• . Prevention also includes working with hotspots of infection. Patients are identified, isolated, and all persons in contact with the infected person are isolated. All suspected patients with intestinal infections are hospitalized and disinfected. In addition, control over the quality of water and food products in this area is required. If there is a real threat, quarantine is introduced. If there is a threat of spread, the population is immunized.
• . Sick animals are identified and quarantine is prescribed, fur clothing is disinfected if infection is suspected, and immunization is carried out according to epidemic indicators.
• Smallpox. Prevention methods include vaccination of all children starting from 2 years of age, followed by revaccination. This measure virtually eliminates the occurrence of smallpox.
• Yellow fever. The population is also being vaccinated. Children are recommended to receive the vaccine from 9 months of age.

So, especially dangerous infections are fatal infections that are highly contagious. In the shortest possible time, they can infect a large part of the population, so it is extremely important to take all precautions when working with infected animals and birds, as well as timely vaccination.

Despite developments in technology and medicine, deadly diseases confidently walk across the planet and claim human lives. Some of them are difficult to diagnose, others have no effective treatments. We present to your attention the top most dangerous diseases in the world that baffle doctors.

Rating of the most dangerous human diseases in history

Elephantiasis

Treatment methods:

• Surgery
• Lymphomassage

Cancer

Oncological diseases are difficult to diagnose, often the fatal diagnosis is made too late for cure, so cancer rightfully takes its place on the list of the most life-threatening diseases. The affected cells of the body metastasize, enlarging the affected area.

Flu

Yes, yes, you heard right. The common flu is one of the most deadly diseases. The flu deserves this honor because its virus is constantly transforming. Regular mutations make drugs against it powerless, forcing scientists to develop more and more new drugs.

Tuberculosis

In the past, tuberculosis has claimed many lives. It affected mainly the lower strata of the population. The infection, the source of which was constantly increasing, instilled fear in people. Now the disease is in 7th place among the top socially dangerous diseases and can be treated, but it can take years.

Necrotizing fasciitis

Necrotizing fasciitis could be a sick fantasy of a writer in the horror genre, if not for the reality of what is happening and its place in the top of deadly diseases. Two circumstances make this disease downright creepy:

• Carnivorous bacteria are the causative agent. A microorganism that enters human tissue begins to destroy these tissues. Thus, the skin, flesh and bone tissue are subject to rotting and destruction.
• Amputation is the only way for humanity to fight the disease. You can cut off a limb and hope that the fasciitis does not spread. The treatment of one of the most terrible diseases ends here.

Progeria

Progeria occupies the middle of the top most dangerous diseases of humanity. Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome or premature aging syndrome is caused by a genetic mutation; medicine is powerless in this case.

Humanity has become a victim of accelerated aging. A 5-year-old child may look 20 years old, and a 20-year-old person may look 80. The patients’ organs wear out, and they die long before their due date.

Malaria

Malaria ranks fourth in the top. “Swamp fever” became a real disaster for Africa and all humanity. Mosquitoes are the carrier, and constant heat and lack of water make matters worse. The death toll from the deadly disease remains frighteningly high to this day.

Black pox

Once upon a time, smallpox caused animal horror in the human mind. An illness that causes the body to rot and leaves monstrous scars on the body even after healing could not go unnoticed. People with smallpox were recognized by their scars and tried to avoid them. Blindness is an additional bonus that survivors of smallpox could receive.

Today, smallpox vaccination is carried out, which successfully helps prevent an outbreak of the disease.

Bubonic plague

Fire is the best medicine. This motto was used in the Middle Ages, and one can guess that the second place among the top socially dangerous diseases is inherited by the plague. The mortality rate from it was 99%, the patients were very contagious and died in agony. Rats became the carriers of the infection, which in turn inherited the infection from fleas. The lack of sanitation took its toll, and humanity faced a pandemic.

There was no treatment against the plague; those who were sick or suspected of having the disease were simply burned. Plague doctors wore awkward suits to avoid getting sick, and the general darkness of the Middle Ages meant that the plague was briefly and succinctly called the “Black Death” by the common people.

A mild cough is often where diseases, outbreaks of epidemics and even pandemics begin, which can spread across entire continents. However, modern medicine and hygiene rules have given us the opportunity to repel the most destructive infections.

Today it seems that we have the epidemic situation under control. Indeed, humanity has coped, for example, with smallpox, eradicated the plague and other deadly dangers. However, most infections still remain with us, periodically manifesting themselves in the poorest (and therefore vulnerable) countries.

What infectious diseases have claimed the greatest number of lives on our planet? From which infections has humanity suffered more than from all the wars that have ever happened on Earth?

And another, most important question: what infections can become potential killers of humanity? What infectious diseases currently claim millions of lives every year? We present to your attention a list of the 27 most famous and terrible infectious diseases.

Black pox

From three hundred to five hundred million lives - approximately the same number of people were killed by smallpox (also called smallpox) in the 20th century alone. One of the last most severe outbreaks of this terrible disease was recorded in Bangladesh in 1973.

In one hospital in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, the mortality rate was 46 percent. In 1959, there was a small outbreak of smallpox in Moscow, where the infection came from India (it was “brought” by a citizen of the USSR who visited India). Thanks to the efforts of Soviet doctors, the disease was stopped, although three people still died.

Some scientists believe that smallpox, which leaves characteristic scars on human skin, began its destructive path from Egypt three thousand years ago. The blackpox virus, which is the cause of smallpox, killed at least a third of those infected. The rest were left disfigured.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced in 1980 that the disease had been completely eradicated thanks to an unprecedented vaccination campaign that took decades. The latest strains of the virus are stored in special centers under certain conditions in Russia and the United States of America.

Plague

Unlike smallpox, this ancient killer infection is still with us. The plague, carried by fleas, wiped out entire cities in Europe, Asia and North Africa in the 14th century during a pandemic called the black pestilence.

There are three types of plague, but the best known form is bubonic plague, which causes painful inflammation of the lymph nodes, called buboes. Plague still occurs in representatives of the animal world throughout the planet, but especially in the western United States and Africa.

In September 2016, WHO reported 783 cases of plague worldwide, 126 of which were fatal. In Russia, the bubonic plague manifested itself quite recently, in Altai, where a 10-year-old boy became infected with it through contact with a sick animal. In total, according to historians, in our era the plague took the lives of about 150 million people (mainly during major epidemics).

Malaria

Despite the fact that malaria is highly preventable and treatable, the infectious disease continues to have a devastating impact in Africa. On the mainland, about 20 percent of child mortality is due to this disease.

Rabies used to be called hydrophobia, since the sound of pouring water causes a spasm, it is impossible to take a sip. To date, medicine knows of fewer than ten cases of survival after a person infected with rabies exhibited the symptoms described above.

Regardless, there is a rabies vaccine that has been shown to be most effective as a preventative measure and also as a method of treating an infected person before he or she develops the symptoms discussed above.

Rabies has been known to mankind since time immemorial. The specificity of infection (through animal saliva) saved our species from massive pandemics of this infection. However, even in our time, there are reports of surges of this infection in a number of backward countries or even tribes. Usually the cause is contact with one or another infected animal.

Pneumonia

While not usually as awe-inspiring as rabies or bubonic plague, this lung infection is a fatal disease. Pneumonia is especially dangerous for children under five years of age and elderly people over 65 years of age.

Many people underestimate the danger of pneumonia. If powerful outbreaks of plague have sunk into oblivion, then, according to WHO, almost a million children around the world died from lung disease in 2015. In general, this disease claims seven million lives a year, with almost half a billion people affected.

Rotavirus infection

Rotavirus infection, caused by rotaviruses, is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children, accompanied by acute diarrhea. This disease, which causes inflammation of the intestines and stomach, is also fatal.

According to WHO, in 2013, rotavirus killed 215 thousand children under the age of five worldwide. About 22 percent of deaths occurred in India. This viral infection leads to dehydration of the body resulting in severe diarrhea and vomiting. In total, there are up to 25 million cases of this infection per year in the world; 660 to 900 thousand die.

Causative agents of infectious diseases in humans

Ebola

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a rare but often fatal infection caused by one of five types of virus of the Ebolavirus genus. The virus spreads at a very high speed, overcoming the resistance of the body's immune system and causing fever, muscle pain, headache, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Some Ebola patients experienced bleeding from the mouth and nose during the later stages of the disease, a condition known as hemorrhagic syndrome. The most recent Ebola outbreak occurred in South Africa in 2014; This is by far the largest outbreak in history.

By April 2016, 28,652 cases were known. Of these, almost 11,300 people died. Ebola is transmitted from person to person through body fluids. There is also a risk of contracting the virus through contact with the blood of an infected person, saliva, sweat (or by touching, for example, clothing or bedding that has absorbed an infected substance).

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

The name of this disease is not very well known to the average person. However, this infection is more familiar as the human variant mad cow disease. It is a rare but fatal disease that is part of a group of so-called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

These infections tend to be transmitted from animals (cattle) to people. The word “spongy” in the name appeared because infections lead to the degradation of brain tissue and the appearance of characteristic holes in the cerebral cortex, which, when enlarged, resemble a sponge.

A person can become infected with this infection, for example, by eating beef contaminated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Essentially, this is the same disease, only in animals.

As mentioned above, this is a rare infection. Its geography is not particularly tied to backward countries, as is the case with, say, malaria. For example, between 1996 and March 2011, 225 cases of the disease were recorded in the UK. Cases of infection have also been reported in France.

It is noteworthy that until 1996, scientists had no idea that a person could acquire spongiform encephalopathy by eating meat contaminated with spongiform encephalopathy. Before this, it was known only about the hereditary nature of the disease, and also that the disease could be introduced into the body of the person being operated on during surgery on the brain or eyes.

Despite its non-prevalence, this infection is extremely merciless. It is known that in the case of mild forms of mad cow disease, the survival rate of patients is 85 percent. If we are talking about a severe form of this disease, then the death of the patient is inevitable.

Marburg hemorrhagic fever

Marburg hemorrhagic fever, also known as Marburg disease or green monkey disease, causes a family of so-called filoviruses. They are characterized by the thread-like shape of viral particles.

The fever itself is transmitted from person to person through body fluids (like Ebola). In general, the Marburg virus has a lot in common with Ebolavirus, which is not surprising, since the latter also belongs to the filovirus family.

Humans can become infected with this disease from bats of the fruit bat family. Some of those infected exhibit acute hemorrhagic fever. According to various sources, the mortality rate for this disease ranges from 60 to 90 percent.

This virus was first identified in Germany in 1967. Then, employees of a scientific laboratory who conducted experiments with monkeys from Uganda became infected with Marburg disease. As it turned out, monkeys, just like people, are susceptible to this infection.

But in bats, which are carriers of the virus, it does not cause the corresponding disease (as is the case with Ebola). Despite appropriate treatment, fever leads to serious complications, which may include long-term mental disorders.

Middle East respiratory syndrome

Another very “fresh” disease, which has a high mortality rate. For this inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract, humanity should also be “grateful” to bats. In addition, camels are carriers of this virus (also called Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus).

This disease first became known in 2012, after cases of infection in Saudi Arabia. Three years later, WHO published information about 1,154 cases of infection in 23 countries, of which 431 cases were fatal.

Some people who become infected with this infection may not show any symptoms. But most often, those infected develop a fever, cough, and shortness of breath. In more severe cases, organs (for example, kidneys) fail to function and breathing stops.

An infectious disease that threatens billions of people

Dengue fever

This disease has many names. She may be known to us as tropical fever. Every year, the virus that causes this disease kills about 50 thousand people around the world, according to WHO.

It is noteworthy that without the complicity of these two species, a healthy person cannot catch dengue fever from an infected person. The symptoms are initially almost the same as for the flu: the patient has a fever, he coughs, the temperature rises, and chills appear.

At more serious stages, the symptoms become much more numerous. Sometimes the virus leads to a potentially fatal condition known as severe dengue. We are talking about dengue hemorrhagic fever, which causes stomach pain, vomiting, bleeding and difficulty breathing.

According to WHO, an average of 400 million people suffer from dengue fever each year. Some scientists who are seriously studying the ways of dengue spread claim that almost 4 billion people in 128 countries of the world are at risk of spreading this fever.

Yellow fever

Like dengue and other diseases, yellow fever, or amaryllosis, causes a virus from the Flaviviridae family - flavivirus (as in the case of dengue fever). The virus is transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person through the bites of biting mosquitoes (Aedes) and Haemagogus.

This fever got its name due to one of the symptoms (recorded, by the way, in a small percentage of people who get sick) - the appearance of yellowness of the skin and eyes. However, the vast majority of those who have encountered this disease have never encountered such a symptom.

The color of the skin and whites of the eyes changed in those people who had a second, more severe phase of fever, which has a destructive effect on human organs, including the liver and kidneys. According to the WHO, half of patients in the second phase of yellow fever (hemorrhagic fever) died within seven to ten days.

The mortality rate for this disease is quite high: for every two hundred thousand infected, there are 30 thousand deaths. Almost 90% are in Africa. Fortunately for many people in the 47 countries at risk (including Central and South America), there is a highly effective vaccine against the disease.

This was not the case at all in the 17th century, when the yellow fever virus, which first appeared in North America and then in Europe, caused severe epidemic outbreaks of the disease, sending many thousands of people to the next world.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

Hantaviruses are spread among humans by rodents (mainly rats and mice). A person can become infected with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome if they have direct contact with the body fluids of these animals; or if you have inhaled microparticles of rodent droppings containing the virus that may have become airborne (for example, in a barn or basement).

The world first learned about one of these viruses, most often causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (Sin Nombre Virus), after its discovery in the United States in 1993. Then, several young people died mysteriously in the southwestern region of the country, called the “four corners.”

24 people were taken to the hospital, half of whom subsequently died. Then the world first learned about a new virus, which was later dubbed the Sin Nombre virus (actually, “unnamed virus” in Spanish), leading to a severe respiratory infection.

Outside the United States—in Asia, Europe, and parts of Central and South America—hantaviruses also cause a serious illness known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

The initial symptoms of this disease are similar to those of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (fever, vomiting, nausea), but it can cause bleeding and kidney failure. The disease is extremely dangerous, since diseases from hantaviruses are tens of times more common than rabies, for example.

Spread of infectious diseases

anthrax

(anthrax) belongs to the category of especially dangerous infectious diseases. This infection is caused by anthrax, a type of bacteria called Bacillus anthracis that lives in soil. Initially, wild and domestic animals (cattle, sheep, goats, etc.) are infected.

Humans usually become infected while caring for animals or from animal products. Bacterial spores can penetrate a person's skin, but sometimes they can be inhaled (for example, when working with animal skins or hair). The pulmonary form of the disease is much more deadly - death occurs in 92 percent of cases of infection.

Anthrax has been known about for a long time. A similar disease was mentioned in Chinese manuscripts about five thousand years ago. The bacterium Bacillus anthracis is believed to have wiped out entire animal species. It is no coincidence that anthrax spores are considered a bacteriological weapon intended for the mass destruction of the enemy.

Whooping cough

This acute airborne infection of a bacterial nature is caused by the whooping cough bacterium (Bordetella pertussis bacterium). The main symptom that signals the presence of this disease is a severe cough, often spasmodic.

However, the fungal type of meningitis is not contagious, although it can cause an outbreak of this disease, as happened, for example, in the United States in 2012, when hundreds of patients were infected through injections of a drug containing fungal spores. Several dozen people died.

Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, which causes flu-like symptoms - nasal discharge, nausea, sensitivity to light, and confusion. A fatal outcome remains possible, although the situation has changed dramatically over a hundred years: then the mortality rate could exceed 90 percent.

Syphilis

is an infectious disease of a chronic nature. This is a sexually transmitted disease, that is, the main route of infection is sexual contact with an infected person. However, there are many cases of infection through blood (among drug addicts; through the use of the same toothbrush, where microscopic particles of blood from the patient’s gums remain, and so on).

Syphilis can now be cured quite simply, but it is a very insidious disease. If the infection is started, it leads to severe complications. At the first stage of the disease, syphilitic ulcers appear on the patient's genitals and anus.

They are usually very small, although painful, and go away on their own. A sick person can immediately forget about temporary inconveniences, attributing them to temporary pimples that popped up for some reason not worth attention.

At the second stage of this disease, syphilis begins to express itself clearly - a rash begins to appear in one or different parts of the body. However, even in this case, the rash may not be very bright and may not be accompanied by itching. The patient may not even pay attention to these rednesses.

In other cases, the rash may be accompanied by fever, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle pain. And if syphilis was not treated during the development of the first and second stages, subsequent problems for the patient will be simply catastrophic.

It also happens that syphilis does not reach the late stage for a very long time. According to some reports, this can last from 10 to 30 years. However, at a later stage, the patient loses the ability to coordinate muscle contractions, paralysis, rigor, bleeding occurs, and dementia is noted. If internal organs are damaged, the patient may die.

According to data for 2016, up to three hundred thousand patients with syphilis are registered in Russia annually. Currently, the disease is only fatal if left untreated (in about a third of patients with advanced disease). During the Renaissance, syphilis destroyed tens of millions of people, being almost the main cause of death in some periods of history.

Infectious diseases causing deformities

Leprosy

This disease has been called whatever name it has – St. Lazarus’ disease, the sorrowful disease, and Crimea. However, it is better known to us as “leprosy.” This contagious chronic infectious disease is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae (also called Hansen's bacillus).

Leprosy affects the affected person's skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract and eyes. If left untreated, it leads to muscle atrophy, physical deformities and permanent damage to the nervous system.

Although people at one time tried to protect themselves from contact with people with leprosy, this infectious disease is not so contagious. The infection is spread through airborne droplets when an infectious person sneezes or coughs.

If you simply touch someone with leprosy, there is no particular risk of becoming infected. Moreover, according to WHO, the immune system of a healthy person is usually able to resist this infection when the bacteria gets inside. However, the most vulnerable category is children.

According to WHO, in 2017, more than two hundred thousand new cases of leprosy were registered in the world. In approximately 40 percent of cases, patients face disability. If there is no proper treatment, a person is doomed within 5-10 years.

Measles

One disease that could also compete for the title of “the plague of our time” is measles. This acute viral infection has a high infectious potential. At the same time, it has a fairly high mortality rate.

The infection leads to the appearance of a characteristic rash on the skin, which is accompanied by general intoxication of the body. Other symptoms of this dangerous disease are not much different from the symptoms of a common cold.

Measles is such a contagious disease that simply being indoors with an infected person can be dangerous. According to WHO, 134,200 people died from measles in 2016. Before the spread of vaccination (that is, in 1980), this disease claimed the lives of 2.6 million people.

Fortunately, vaccination has proven to be extremely successful in combating this viral infection. It is known that out of every thousand people vaccinated against measles, 997 have never encountered this disease.

Atypical pneumonia

Viral SARS showed itself to be a serious disease quite recently - in 2002, when it claimed the lives of 813 people out of 8437 cases. We are talking about one of the most dangerous types of atypical pneumonia – severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Bats help spread this disease (as in the case of the Ebola virus, Marburg fever and Middle East respiratory syndrome). In this case, the distributors are the so-called horseshoe bats.

The virus began its movement from China, but quickly spread to other countries and continents due to the fact that the Chinese authorities initially tried to hide information about the outbreak of this disease. The SARS case showed humanity how important it is to act together when it comes to such formidable opponents as viral and bacterial infections.

Staphylococcal infection

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a complex (and sometimes beautiful) name used for a bacterium that causes very severe, life-threatening infectious diseases of the human skin and blood.

The main problem is that this Staphylococcus aureus (as it is called for simplicity) is able to resist most antibiotics. The history of the “fight” of staphylococcus with antibiotics began back in 1940, when doctors began treating staphylococcal infections with penicillin.

An overdose of the drug (or its misuse) led to the fact that microbes developed resistance to penicillin over a period of ten years, which forced scientists to try a new way to combat staphylococci - using an antibiotic called methicillin.

However, staphylococci have also demonstrated the ability to develop resistance to this drug. Today, this microbe is able to resist the effects of many antibiotics of the penicillin group, such as amoxicillin, oxacillin, dicloxacillin and all other beta-lactam antibiotics.

As a result, humanity has received a powerful enemy in the form of a sort of super microbe that causes infections that are difficult to diagnose and disguise themselves as other diseases. They reduce the body's defenses, facilitating the penetration of toxins into the blood and tissues, causing many dangerous pathologies.

Staph skin infections usually start as small red rashes that can develop into pus-filled boils that require surgery. These infections can cause even more serious consequences by affecting the blood, heart, bones and other internal organs of a person. Sometimes they lead to the death of the patient.

Zika virus

The Zika virus is probably one of the most “non-lethal” on this list of killer viruses, which, however, does not become completely safe from this. Humanity first identified this virus in 1947 in Africa.

It belongs to the genus of flaviviruses transmitted by the already known genus of biting mosquitoes (Aedes). The disease caused by this virus, called Zika disease, is not particularly dangerous for most people. But today the disease has pandemic status.

According to research, every fifth person infected with the Zika virus eventually develops the disease of the same name. However, the virus threatens serious complications for the human body developing in the womb and for newborn children.

Those infected experience a fever, a rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis, but these symptoms are mild and last only a few days. However, the virus causes miscarriages in pregnant women and leads to congenital malformations (for example, microcephaly).

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When people think about the most deadly diseases in the world, their mind probably turns to the quick-acting, incurables that grab the media headlines from time to time. But in reality, many of these types of diseases are not included in the top 10. An estimated 56.4 million people died worldwide in 2015, and 68 percent of these were caused by diseases that progressed slowly.

There are certain deadly diseases that to this day, despite advances in technology and medicine, still cannot be cured and have no chance of survival.

To the extent possible, treatment of the most deadly diseases is only to treat the patient's symptoms in order to reduce suffering. Many of these diseases are part of national and international disease lists because they are highly contagious. Below we describe 25 of them:

Below is a list of the top 10 deadly diseases that cause the most deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The deadliest disease in the world is coronary artery disease. Also called coronary artery disease, CAD occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart become narrowed. May lead to chest pain, heart failure and arrhythmia.

Although coronary heart disease remains a leading cause of death, mortality has decreased in many European countries and in the United States. This may be due to improved health education, access to healthcare, and forms of prevention. However, in many developing countries, mortality rates from CHD are rising. Included in this increase are life expectancy, socioeconomic changes, and lifestyle risk factors. It is included in the list of the most deadly diseases in the world.

Risk factors and prevention of coronary heart disease

Risk factors for CAD include:

• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• smoking
• family history of ischemic heart disease
• diabetes
• overweight

Talk to your doctor if you have one or more of these risk factors.

You can prevent CAD with medications and maintain good heart health. Some steps you can take to reduce your risk:

• maintaining a healthy weight
• eat a balanced diet low in sodium and high in fruits and vegetables
• avoid smoking
• moderate alcohol consumption

A stroke occurs when an artery in your brain becomes blocked or leaks. This causes the oxygen-deprived cells to begin dying within minutes. During the stroke, you feel suddenly numb and confused, or have difficulty walking or seeing. If left untreated, a stroke can cause long-term disability.

In fact, stroke is one of the deadliest diseases. People who receive treatment within 3 hours of a stroke are less likely to have disability. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 93 percent of people knew that sudden numbness on one side was a symptom of a stroke. But only 38% knew all the symptoms that would prompt them to seek emergency help. It is included in the list of the most deadly diseases in the world.

Risk factors and prevention of stroke

Risk factors for stroke include:

• high blood pressure
• family history of stroke
• especially in combination with oral contraceptives
• being a woman

Some risk factors for stroke can be reduced with preventive care, medications, and lifestyle changes. In general, good health habits can reduce your risk.

Ways to prevent stroke may include controlling high blood pressure with medications or surgery. You should also maintain a healthy lifestyle, in addition to regular exercise and a healthy, low-sodium diet. Avoid smoking and drinking only in moderation, as these activities increase the risk of stroke.

Lower respiratory tract infections are infections in the airways and lungs. This may be due to:

• flu
• pneumonia
• bronchitis
• tuberculosis

Viruses usually cause lower respiratory tract infections. They can also be caused by bacteria. Cough is the main symptom of a lower respiratory tract infection. You may also feel shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. Untreated lower respiratory tract infections can lead to respiratory failure and death. They are included in the list of the most deadly diseases in the world. They are one of the most deadly diseases in the world.

Risk factors and prevention

Risk factors for lower respiratory tract infection include:

• flu
• poor air quality or frequent exposure to lung irritants
• smoking
• weak immune system
• overcrowded child care facilities that mainly affect infants
• asthma

One of the best preventative measures you can take to reduce respiratory infections is to get a flu shot every year. People at high risk of pneumonia can also get the vaccine. Wash your hands regularly with soap to avoid bacteria, especially before touching your face and before eating. Staying home and resting until you feel better if you have a respiratory infection will allow the rest to improve healing.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term, progressive lung disease that makes breathing difficult. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema types of COPD. In 2004, approximately 64 million people worldwide were living with COPD.

Risk factors and prevention

Risk factors for COPD include:

• smoking or secondhand smoke
• lung irritants, such as chemical fumes
• family history, with AATD gene associated with COPD
• history of respiratory infections in childhood

There is no cure for COPD, but its progression can be slowed with medication. The best ways to prevent COPD are to quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke and other lung irritants. If you are experiencing any COPD symptoms, getting treatment as soon as possible will improve your outlook.

Respiratory tract cancers include cancer of the trachea, larynx, bronchi and lungs. The main causes are smoking, secondhand smoke, and environmental toxins. But household pollution such as fuel and mold also contribute. One of the most deadly diseases in the world.

Impact of respiratory tract cancer around the world

A 2015 study reports that respiratory cancer accounts for about 4 million deaths annually. In developing countries, there is an 81 to 100 percent increase in respiratory cancers due to pollution and smoking. Many Asian countries, especially India, still use charcoal for cooking. Accounting for solid fuel emissions accounted for 17 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and 22 percent of women.

Risk factors and prevention

Tracheal, bronchial, and lung cancers can affect anyone, but they are most likely to affect those who have a history of smoking or tobacco use. Other risk factors for such cancers include family history and exposure to environmental factors such as diesel fumes.

Besides avoiding vapor and tobacco products, it is unknown if there is anything else that can be done to prevent lung cancer. However, early diagnosis can improve your appearance and reduce the symptoms of respiratory cancer.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases that affect the production of insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce insulin. The reason is unknown. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or insulin cannot be used effectively. Type 2 diabetes can be caused by a number of factors, including poor diet, physical inactivity and excess weight.

People in low- and middle-income countries are more likely to die from diabetes complications. It is included in the list of the most deadly diseases in the world.

Risk factors and prevention

Risk factors for diabetes include:

• overweight
• high blood pressure
• elderly age
• not regular meals
• unhealthy diet

If you have diabetes, you can control your symptoms by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet. Adding fiber to your diet will help control your blood sugar levels.

When you think of Alzheimer's disease or dementia, you may think of memory loss, but you may not think of the terminal illness. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and interrupts normal mental functions. These include thinking, reasoning, and typical behavior.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia—60 to 80 percent of dementia cases are, in fact, Alzheimer's disease. The disease begins by causing soft memory problems, making it difficult to remember information. Over time, however, the disease progresses and you may have no memory of large periods of time. A 2014 study found that the number of deaths due to Alzheimer's disease may be higher than reported.

Risk factors and prevention

Risk factors for Alzheimer's disease include:

• being older than 65
• family medical history
• inheritance of disease genes from parents
• existing mild cognitive impairment
• Down syndrome
• Unhealthy Lifestyle
• women
• previous head injuries
• being disconnected from the community or having poor interactions with others for long periods of time

There is currently no way to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Research doesn't understand why some people develop it and others don't. As they work to understand this, they also work to find preventative methods.

One thing that can be helpful in reducing the risk of disease is a heart-healthy diet. A diet high in fruits and vegetables, low in saturated fat from meat and dairy, and high in sources of healthy fats such as nuts, olive oil, and fish meats, can help you reduce your risk of more than just heart disease - they may protect your brain from Alzheimer's disease, too.

Dehydration due to gastrointestinal diseases

Diarrhea is when you have three or more loose stools in a day. If diarrhea lasts more than a few days, your body is losing too much water and salt. This causes dehydration, which can lead to death. Diarrhea is usually caused by an intestinal virus or bacteria transmitted through contaminated water or food. This is especially common in developing countries with poor sanitation conditions.

Diarrhea is the second deadliest disease in children under 5 years of age. About 760,000 children die from gastrointestinal diseases every year.

Risk factors and prevention

Risk factors for gastrointestinal diseases include:

• live in an area with poor sanitation
• no access to clean water
• age, children are most likely to experience severe symptoms of gastrointestinal illness
• malnutrition
• weakened immune system

According to UNICEF, the best method of prevention is practicing good hygiene. Good hand washing practices can reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases by 40 percent. Improved water purification and quality, as well as early medical intervention, can also help prevent gastrointestinal diseases.

Tuberculosis is a lung disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can be treated, although some strains are resistant to conventional treatments. Tuberculosis is one of the world's leading killers of people with HIV. About 35 percent of HIV deaths are due to tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis cases have decreased by 1.5% annually since 2000. The goal is to end the disease by 2030.

Risk factors and prevention

Risk factors for tuberculosis include:

• diabetes
• HIV infection
• lower body weight
• closeness with other people with TB
• regular use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids or drugs that suppress the immune system

The best prevention against tuberculosis is to receive the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine (BCG). This is usually given to children. If you think you have been exposed to TB, you can start taking medicine to reduce your chance of developing the disease.

Cirrhosis is the result of chronic or long-term scarring and damage to the liver. The damage may be the result of kidney disease, or it may be caused by diseases such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism. A healthy liver filters harmful substances from your blood and sends healthy blood into your body. As substances damage the liver, a scar forms.

As more scar tissue forms, the liver must work harder to function properly. Eventually, the liver may stop working. It is included in the list of the most deadly diseases in the world.

Risk factors and prevention

Risk factors for cirrhosis include:

• chronic alcohol use
• accumulation of fat around the liver (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)
• chronic viral hepatitis

Stay away from behaviors that can cause liver damage to prevent cirrhosis. Long-term drinking and heavy drinking are one of the leading causes of cirrhosis, so avoiding alcohol can help you prevent damage.

Likewise, you can avoid non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as sugar and fat. Finally, you can reduce your chance of contracting viral hepatitis by using protection during sex and avoiding sharing anything that may contain blood. This includes needles, razors, toothbrushes and more.

Deadly diseases

While fatal diseases have increased, their more serious conditions have also decreased. Certain factors, such as increasing life expectancy, naturally increase the incidence of diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke and heart disease. But many of the diseases on this list are preventable and treatable. As medicine continues to advance and prevention education increases, we may see a decrease in mortality from these diseases.

A good approach to reducing the risk of any of these conditions is to live a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition and exercise. Avoiding smoking and drinking in moderation may also help. For bacterial or viral infections, proper hand washing can help prevent or reduce the risk.

Infection with pathologies such as cholera, anthrax, yellow fever, tularemia, and bird flu is dangerous not only for the patient himself, but also for those around him. These OIs are highly contagious and highly lethal.

Among the many infectious diseases, there is a group called “particularly dangerous infections.” They are of international importance, and laboratories in many countries are developing methods for preventing and combating OI. What are these infections and how are they characterized?

The concept of especially dangerous infections (quarantine) was developed by the World Health Organization. This list separately includes several infectious diseases that are characterized by high endemicity, severe course and high mortality.

Particularly dangerous infections, the list of which, according to WHO, differs somewhat from the domestic classification, includes the following diseases:

• plague;
• cholera;
• smallpox;
• yellow fever;
• anthrax;
• tularemia;
• avian influenza.

The first four infections are international; tularemia and anthrax are dangerous infectious diseases for Russia.

Microbiological organizations and laboratories are developing measures for the prevention and control of these diseases. Thus, the circulation of pathogens in nature and the movement of sources of infections between countries are monitored.

Every major city has a laboratory for especially dangerous infections. When such a disease is detected, this organization begins work to prevent the circulation of the pathology.

The problems of especially dangerous infections lie in the difficulties of diagnosing and treating them in third world countries. Until now, the highest mortality rate remains there due to the insufficient development of medicine and the lack of medicines. This situation requires intensive work to improve medical services.

This pathology is a zoonotic infection with natural focality. Due to its severity, it is included in the group of quarantine infections.

The source of infection is rodents, patients with lung damage. There are several routes of infection. The disease begins acutely, with high fever. The most common forms of the disease are bubonic and pulmonary. They occur after contact with infected material.

As the plague progresses, the lymph nodes enlarge, they become inflamed and suppurate. In the pulmonary form, respiratory failure quickly develops and the person dies within a few hours. This form is considered incurable, and any means used are aimed only at alleviating the patient’s condition.

Cholera

This infection is part of the intestinal group. It differs from other diseases in this category in that it causes very severe diarrhea and severe dehydration. As a result, the patient develops hypovolemic shock.

Penetration of the microbe into the body occurs through contaminated water. The bacterium damages the intestinal wall. As a result, the reabsorption of water stops and it begins to leave the body. The patient experiences frequent loose stools that resemble rice water.

Mortality depends on the timeliness of diagnosis and initiation of treatment.

Death may occur from cardiovascular failure. The disease requires immediate implementation of a set of measures to rehydrate the patient.

Black (natural) smallpox

This is a particularly dangerous infection of viral origin. It is characterized by a pronounced intoxication syndrome and typical skin rashes. Today, this infection is considered defeated, and the virus can only be detected in a microbiological laboratory.

The source of the blackpox virus is a sick person. The route of transmission of this infection is airborne droplets or airborne dust. In addition, it is possible for the virus to penetrate through damaged skin, and in pregnant women, infection of the fetus through the placenta.

Susceptibility to the virus is extremely high. After an illness, stable immunity is formed, but 0.1% of those who have recovered from the disease may become ill again. The infection was previously reported in African and Asian countries. The last case of smallpox was reported in 1977. The World Health Organization declared victory over smallpox in 1980.

The disease lasts about one and a half months with alternating four periods. Elements of the rash go through several stages of development. First, a spot forms, transforming into a papule and vesicle. Then a purulent blister forms, which soon becomes covered with a crust. Erosion and ulcers form on the mucous membranes. Characterized by severe intoxication. After two weeks, the recovery period begins. The mortality rate for different types of smallpox ranged from 28% to 100%.

Yellow fever

This is a disease of viral origin, natural focal, with an acute course. The infection causes liver damage and hemorrhagic syndrome. Laboratories isolate two types of the virus: endemic, which causes disease in the wild; epidemic – provoking a disease in an urban area.

The source of the virus is monkeys, less often rodents. It is spread by mosquitoes. A person becomes infected when bitten by an infected insect. People can get sick regardless of gender and age. Susceptibility to infection is extremely high, and there is no innate immunity. After an illness, a stable defense is formed.

The pathology is most often recorded in the countries of South America and Africa. However, isolated cases can occur in any area where mosquitoes live. The spread of the disease is facilitated by infected people and animals moving from country to country.

An infected person by himself cannot release the pathogen and is not dangerous to other people. The circulation of the virus begins when the carrier, the mosquito, appears.

According to the nature of the flow, three degrees of severity and a lightning-fast form are distinguished. The disease begins acutely, with a sharp rise in temperature. High fever lasts about three days.

A characteristic sign is redness of the skin of the face and upper neck. Injected sclera, swollen eyelids and lips are observed. The tongue is thickened and red. Photophobia and lacrimation are characteristic. The liver and spleen are significantly enlarged and painful. After a few days, a icteric discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes forms. The patient's condition worsens. Bleeding from the nose, gums and stomach develops.

Mild to moderate infections usually result in recovery. In the severe form, death occurs on the sixth day; in the lightning form, the person dies after three days. The cause of death is multiple organ failure.

anthrax

Particularly dangerous infections are anthrax. A disease of bacterial origin. Due to its danger, it is considered a biological weapon of mass destruction.

The causative agent is the non-motile bacillus Bacillus anthracis. It lives in the soil, from where domestic animals can become infected. They become a source of infection for a person - he becomes infected while working with them. The infection enters the human body through airborne droplets and the nutritional route (with food).

There are cutaneous and generalized forms of the disease. In the cutaneous form, a characteristic carbuncle is formed, which is covered with a black scab. The generalized form affects almost all internal organs. The mortality rate for the cutaneous form is practically zero, and for the generalized form it is very high.

Tularemia

It is a bacterial zoonotic infection. It is characterized by natural focality. The source of the bacteria is all kinds of rodents, cattle and sheep.

The pathogen can enter the human body in the following ways: contact, when direct touching of infected rodents occurs; nutritional, when a person consumes infected foods and water; aerosol, when dust with bacteria is inhaled; transmissible - when bitten by infected insects.

Depending on how the infection occurred, clinical forms of infection develop. When the bacteria are inhaled, the pulmonary form of tularemia begins. If infection occurs through food and water, a person becomes ill with anginal-bubonic and alimentary forms. After a bite, an ulcerative-bubonic form develops.

Particularly dangerous infections caused by this bacterium are recorded mainly in our country.

The disease occurs cyclically with alternating four periods. Characterized by an acute onset, high fever, and malaise. A typical symptom is pain in the lower back and calf muscles. The febrile period can last up to a month.

Note the features of the patient’s appearance: puffy face, hyperemia and cyanosis of the skin; sclera injected; the patient is euphoric. After the third day of illness, some patients develop a macular or petechial rash.

A specific symptom is damage to the lymph nodes. This is most clearly revealed in the bubonic form. The nodes increase several times in size and become fused with the surrounding tissues. The skin over them is inflamed. The prognosis for tularemia is favorable, with deaths occurring in 1% of cases.

Flu

This infection is also of viral origin. It is characterized by seasonality, damage to the respiratory tract and a high incidence of complications. Ordinary human influenza, caused by the H1N1 virus, is not included in the group of quarantine infections.

The list of especially dangerous infections includes the avian influenza virus – H5N1. It causes severe intoxication, lung damage with the development of respiratory distress syndrome. The source of infection is migratory waterfowl.

A person becomes infected when caring for such birds, as well as by eating contaminated meat. In addition, the virus exhibits the ability to circulate among people.

The disease begins acutely, with high fever. It can last up to two weeks. Three days after infection, catarrhal syndrome develops. It manifests itself as bronchitis and laryngitis. During the same period, most patients develop viral pneumonia. Mortality reaches 80%.

Prevention measures

Prevention of especially dangerous infections is carried out jointly by all countries belonging to the World Health Organization. In addition, each state individually implements a set of preventive measures.

The problems of especially dangerous infections are that, due to developed transport capabilities, the risk of importing pathogens of these diseases to different countries increases. For prevention, control is carried out at all borders of countries: land, air, sea.

Employees of international transport vehicles, airports, and train stations undergo special training in recognizing quarantine infections and taking appropriate measures.

If there is any suspicion of a dangerous infection in a person, he is placed in an isolated room and medical assistance is called. Additionally, an emergency notification is sent to the SES. Employees who have been in contact with the sick person are also isolated. Everyone is prescribed medications for emergency prevention.

Dangerous infections during pregnancy are most often an indication for its termination. All viruses are capable of penetrating the placenta and infecting the fetus. Usually he dies in utero.

To treat especially dangerous infections, a person is placed in a separate box in an infectious diseases hospital. Medical personnel should not leave the hospital during the entire treatment period. To carry out medical procedures and other work with a patient, it is mandatory to use special protective suits. They are used to protect personnel from infection.

Modern treatment consists of the use of appropriate antibacterial and antiviral drugs. Pathogenetic and symptomatic agents are also used for treatment.

These infections have a high mortality rate, so it is very important to take preventive measures. To reduce the incidence, specialized laboratories are working to create new highly effective drugs.