The case of Typhoid Mary sparked a public health debate in early 1900s New York, and her legacy continues to be discussed to this day. March marks the 100th anniversary of Mary Mallon, an Irish cook who inadvertently infected multiple people with typhoid fever and was later placed in isolated quarantine for over 20 years of her life.

Typhoid fever is caused by a strain of Salmonella bacteria, resulting in high fever, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. Mary was a carrier of typhoid, meaning she appeared healthy but continued to carry the bacteria in her body. Her story is unique because it brought to light the conflicting priorities of public health policies and individual freedom. During that time, typhoid had no cure and was sometimes fatal. Mary is thought to have caused over seven outbreaks, 50 infections and three fatalities over a period of 15 years.  What can we learn from her case?  read on to find out!

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Cholera, a bacterial disease usually spread by food or water, can be fatal if not treated right away.

The disease initially causes intestinal distress and dehydration. Cholera is a fast-acting disease that can turn deadly within hours. Poor sanitation and unclean water systems create a breeding ground for cholera in developing countries. Areas like Yemen and Haiti have ongoing cholera outbreaks that have spread to millions.

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World Kidney Day is March 12th, and it offers an opportunity to discuss how to travel safely when dealing with kidney problems. For individuals suffering from kidney issues, travel is still very possible, and it can be a huge morale booster. In fact, many doctors encourage travel for dialysis patients, as long as their health is stable.

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Some areas of the world have been able to get rid of malaria.

Even with decades of outbreaks, the parasite is gone in many countries. However, even if countries eradicate a disease, travelers always pose a risk of bringing it back.

This problem is even plaguing hospitals in the United States. Despite getting rid of the parasite long ago, 1,500 malaria cases can be found in U.S. clinics every year.

With the ease of travel and malaria’s persistence, is it even possible to fully eradicate the parasite around the world?

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Diseases sometimes take time before wreaking havoc in humans.

They start off as tiny, mostly harmless germs. But, those germs start to grow and get stronger, looking for some creature to latch onto and cause damage.

Usually those infected creature are animals. Infecting pigs, rodents, insects and other creatures, a virus becomes stronger and harder to eliminate.

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