Skip Sidebar navigation and go to main page content

A A PRINT

Clinical Services | Infectious Disease

Infectious Disease

 

 

 

Spreading

 

Sickness

 

Panhandle Health District vaccinates against many infectious diseases - illnesses that spread quickly and easily to other people. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa are in the air, water and soil and they're amazingly efficient for their microscopic size at knocking us flat on our backs.

Bacteria multiply quickly and release chemicals that make us sick. Viruses are like capsules of genetic material. Once they're in our bodies, they use our own cells to multiply. Fungi are primitive vegetables and protozoa are one-celled animals that live and dine in other living things.

We catch these germs through touching, eating, drinking and breathing, through animal and insect bites, kissing and sexual contact..

Many of the illnesses these germs cause are preventable with vaccines, good hand-washing and good sense:

  • Keeping your distance from anyone sick.
  • Covering your cough and sneeze, then washing your hands and throwing your tissue in a waste can with a lid.
  • Covering your cough with your sleeve.
  • Staying home when you're sick
  • Disinfecting commonly handled hard surfaces such as doorknobs and handrails.

Click on the following for information on some of the more common infectious diseases:



Skip Footer Navigation