Summary

Infectious diseases are major causes of illness, disability and death in many parts of the world. The recent swine flu pandemic has shown just how vulnerable we all are to communicable diseases which are capable of being transmitted from one person to another, or from one species to another. This book examines the various types of communicable diseases affecting Australians and how they are kept under control. Topics include: outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics; symptoms and treatments for Australia's major infectious diseases including the common cold, bacterial and viral infections, the various types of influenza, pneumonia, mosquito-borne infections, food-borne disease, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. This book also looks at vaccine-preventable diseases and gives an overview of Australia's immunisation policy.