Ross River Fever and Other Delightful Diseases Quiz

Answer: Mosquito

Ross River Fever is a tropical, non-contagious, disease caused by the Ross River Virus and spread by mosquitoes. It is endemic to Australia, New Guinea and some South Pacific islands and the host sources of the virus are Australian native animals. The incubation period is just over a week and symptoms range from nothing through to fever, rash, headaches and joint pain. Arthralgia is the most common symptom and occurs in 95% of cases.

The disease was first seen in New South Wales in 1928, but it wasn't isolated until 1959 when a mosquito was trapped near the Ross River in Townsville, Queensland, hence the name Ross River Fever. Before this, the illness was called 'epidemic polyarthritis'.

There is no vaccination available but it is recommended that prevention against mosquito bites be taken. Treatment can include anti-viral medication but usually symptomatic relief such as analgesics, anti-inflammatories and anti-pyretics are all that is needed. Most patients recover in a few weeks, but some are unwell for up to a year.

Answer: Ticks

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia and is spread by ticks of the Ixodes genus. The disease is seen in North America, Europe and some parts of Asia. The disease is characterised by a bulls-eye type rash that appears at the site of the tick bit a week after infection. While the rash is not itchy or painful, other symptoms of the disease are headaches, fever and fatigue. There may also be some localised paralysis, arthralgia, neck stiffness and heart palpitations. Treatment is symptomatic but antibiotics may be needed.

Lyme disease was first described in 1764 by Reverend Dr John Walker, although at the time the disease was thought to be limited to the rash with headaches and fever. It wasn't until the 1920s that some neurological symptoms were also associated with a tick bite. A cluster of what was thought to be juvenile rheumatoid arthritis cases near Lyme and Old Lyme in Connecticut in 1975 lead to the disease being named after the area.

Answer: Kissing Bug

Chagas Disease, also known as American Tripanosomiasis, is a parasitic infection carried by triatomine bugs like the kissing bug, (so named because they tend to bite people's faces) and conebugs. The disease is most commonly found around Central America and the northern part of South America and was named after Brazilian doctor Carlos Chagas who discovered the causative organism.

Chagas disease has three phases, the acute phase which can last from a few weeks to a few months, the intermediate phase of up to 20 years or more and the chronic phase which appears after 20 years. During the acute phase any symptoms are similar to other common illnesses and patients often don't know they have the disease. A definitive symptom during the acute phase is Romana's sign- when infected faeces from the kissing bug is rubbed into the eye, causing it to swell. The intermediate phase has very few, if any, symptoms. During the chronic phase severe symptoms like organ damage, particularly heart and lungs, appear and usually never resolve.

The CDC in the U.S. recommends that anti-parasitic drugs should be given to all patients regardless of which phase they are in when diagnosed, but the earlier these drugs are given the better the outcome.

Answer: Tsetse fly

Transmitted by the bite of an infected Tsetse fly, the African Sleeping sickness is a parasitic illness caused by the protozoa Trypansoma brucei. Within a few weeks the first symptoms appear and the initial symptoms mimic other infections: headache, fever and joint pain. Over the course of the next few months the patient may experience confusion, insomnia, poor coordination and numbness. Currently there is no vaccine available against African Trypanosomiasis, and treatment is the intra venous administration of anti-microbials and anti-parastic drugs.

Answer: Lice, fleas and mites

Typhus is caused by a sub-group of Rickettsia bacteria and is spread via lice, fleas and mites (chiggers). Scrub typhus, which is spread by mites, can be found across Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Epidemic typhus is spread by lice and is found in areas of overcrowding with poor sanitation. As its name suggests, it occurs in clusters.

Symptoms begin suddenly with flu-like symptoms, and after a week to ten days a rash appears. Along with the rash are symptoms of photophobia, delirium and coma. Treatment is antibiotic therapy with Doxycycline or Chloramphenicol. If left untreated, Typhus may be fatal. Currently the disease is on the wane but it has not been eradicated.

Answer: Ticks

The Heartland Virus is a relatively new illness (first appearing in 2009) that is spread via infected Lone Star ticks found in the Midwestern United States. The illness begins after two weeks with a low-grade fever, lethargy, headaches, nausea, low white cell count (leukopenia) and low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Treatment is symptomatic and supportive and if the leukopenia is severe then isolation may be warranted. Anti-viral therapy may be used in severe cases.

Answer: Mosquito

The Zika virus is spread via the bite of an infected Aedes Mosquito and is related to Dengue fever and Yellow fever. An epidemic of Zika occurred in the Americas in 2015-2016. This coincided with the 2016 Olympic Games which were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Symptoms of Zika resemble those of Dengue fever - headaches, fever and joint pain - but the severity is usually only mild. Zika is most dangerous to pregnant women as it can cross the placental barrier and infect the foetus, causing neuronal defects.

Answer: Ticks

Rickettsia is a bacteria that is responsible for causing Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, via tick bites.

The symptoms are fever and headache and the characteristic petechial (from broken blood vessels) rash that begins on the hands and wrists. Patients may also experience muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. If appropriate, antibiotics are given in the first few days of illness then the symptoms will abate in a few days to a week. More serious cases will take longer.

Although the disease is found throughout both the North and South American continents, it took its name from the Rocky Mountains Laboratories where much of the research into the disease was completed. Other names for this illness include Boutonneuse Fever and rickettsial pox.

Answer: Fleas

The Bubonic Plague, or Black Death, is spread by the bacterium Yersinia pestis through the bite of infected fleas and occasionally lice. The bacteria is transported via the lymph to the lymph glands which become swollen and painful. This swelling is called a bubo. Fevers and chills, headaches and vomiting are common symptoms, but muscle cramps and seizures have also been reported. Gangrene can occur in the extremities, and this is where the term 'Black Death' arose.

Occasionally the disease may be passed on to humans by touching the infected fluids of dead animals.

For treatment to be successful, appropriate antibiotics need to be given within 12 to 24 hours of onset. If untreated, the mortality rate is as high as 40 to 60%.

Answer: Mosquito

Spread by the Anopheles mosquito, Malaria symptoms include fever with paroxysm (rigors), headaches, vomiting and fatigue and, if severe enough, can lead to seizures, encephalopathy, splenomegaly, coma and death. The disease can be recurring if not treated effectively. Malaria is found in the tropical areas around the equator and is most prevalent in Africa.

Prevention includes the use of mosquito netting, repellent, and spraying to reduce numbers of mosquitoes. For travellers anti-malarial drugs should be taken before during and after any trip to susceptible areas. Treatment is with a quinine based medication, although some strains of the disease are becoming resistant to common medications.