During the 1940s and 1950s, Americans were hit with a plague. The disease spread fear as quickly as it filled hospital beds. The plague was Polio, and no one was exempt.

Even a President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, spent his time in office in a wheelchair due to paralysis caused by polio.

For Americans, the widespread epidemic has passed. According to the Mayo Clinic, the last naturally-occurring case of polio in the U.S. happened in 1979. Despite that knowledge and the discovery of an effective vaccine back in 1953, we still need to be wary of the disease. Unlike the iron lung that was used in treatment, polio isn’t a thing of the past.

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Yellow fever, a disease spread by mosquitoes, has an extensive history spanning back to the 1600’s. Today, due mainly to vaccination, it has a much lesser impact on the developed (and developing) world, but this has not always been the case. Once considered the most dangerous infectious disease, yellow fever has been eradicated from most parts of the world, thanks to the yellow fever vaccine. In honor of National Immunization Awareness month, read on for a brief history of the disease and how vaccine development has helped eradicate yellow fever in many nations.

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Many have never heard of Legionnaires’ disease, but this bacteria-caused illness is making headlines after reported outbreaks in New York City this summer. The disease was blamed for 12 deaths over 119 reported cases until the outbreak was declared over by early August of 2015. However, in October of this year, three Chicago schools shut down due to reports of possibly high risk of contracting the disease. In both cases, the bacteria were traced to cooling towers in the city. In reality, Legionnaires’ disease affects thousands of people annually in the United States.

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You’re on vacation, having fun, eating all kinds of new foods, but, then, it happens. It starts with a headache that quickly becomes a fever, and, suddenly, your dream vacation has become the stuff nightmares are made of. That is what listeriosis can do.

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Signs of Post-Travel Sickness

When most people return from a trip to an exotic location, they bring home photos, keepsakes, and gift items for family and friends. However, fever, upset stomach, and other physical ailments can also accompany a traveler home. Although most post-travel symptoms are generally mild and may be similar to the common cold or mild digestive system upset, there are some signs that may indicate a more serious problem. People who experience unusual or more severe symptoms following a trip abroad should seek medical attention immediately.

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