Disease Fact Sheets and Resources

Bacterial Meningitis

Meningococcal disease is a potentially deadly bacterial infection. Symptoms can come on fast and include:  high fever, stiff neck, vomiting, exhaustion, headache & altered mental state.  Some people experience a purple, dark brown, or black rash. It can kill in as little as 24 hours or cause permanent complications: brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities or limb amputations.  Click on the link below to learn more about meningococcal disease and how to prevent it.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Whooping cough (pertussis) can cause serious illness in people of all ages, but is most dangerous for babies.  Whooping cough may begin like a common cold, but unlike a cold, the coughing can last for weeks or months. 

One to 2 weeks after the first symptoms start, people with whooping cough may develop paroxysms—rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits. These coughing fits usually last 1 to 6 weeks but can last for up to 10 weeks. Coughing fits generally get worse and become more common as the illness continues.

Coughing fits can cause people to

  • Make a high-pitched “whoop” sound when they are finally able to inhale at the end of a coughing fit

  • Vomit during or after coughing fits

  • Feel very tired after the fit, but usually seem well in-between fits

  • Struggle to breathe

Click on the links below to learn more about pertussis.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, some medications, toxins, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis. Hepatitis is most often caused by a virus. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Although all types of viral hepatitis can cause similar symptoms, they are spread in different ways, have different treatments, and some are more serious than others.  Click on the links below to learn more about the different types of hepatitis.

Hepatitis A

Norovirus

Norovirus is often called the "stomach flu", "stomach bug", or "food poisoning". It is the most common cause of illness and outbreaks where people suffer from nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Norovirus spreads very easily.  Click on the links below to learn more about norovirus.