Health Resources

Avian Flue (H5N1)

What is avian influenza?

Avian influenza, or “bird flu”, is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. Avian influenza viruses are highly species-specific, but have, on rare occasions, crossed the species barrier to infect humans.
More information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/avian_faqs/en/index.html

Hepatitis

What is hepatitis?

“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. Toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use, and bacterial and viral infections can all cause hepatitis. Hepatitis is also the name of a family of viral infections that affect the liver; the most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
More information from the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

What is MRSA?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics called beta-lactams. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. In the community, most MRSA infections are skin infections. More severe or potentially life-threatening MRSA infections occur most frequently among patients in healthcare settings.
More information from the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/prevent/index.htm