Countless of different bacteria live in this world, just as we do. However, some of these bacteria are capable of reaching our organism, using us as hosts and triggering diseases. These bacteria are named pathogenic bacteria. These trigger illnesses in humans, animals and plants. Some of the most common health problems that bacteria may trigger is food poisoning, anthrax, tooth ache or even cancer. Thus, the following lines will list the most common pathogenic bacteria wreaking havoc upon our health daily.
The Covert Killers
In order to make sensational news, the media has, over the past few decades, created a specific image which follows bacteria. Namely, these microorganisms are considered to be excessively malignant, lurking in the dark, waiting to get us, infect us and kill us. Truly, certain bacteria can be life-threatening and some may even kill a large number of people. However, not all bacteria are killers and bacterial infections do not have to be terminal. Usually, the “killer” bacteria does not spread fast enough to be that dangerous on a global level.
Yet, when infections start spreading excessively, affecting greater parts of the planet, we call these occurrences epidemics. Epidemics are usually infections which affect a specific part of our planet. But, taking into consideration that we travel and carry our bacteria with us, epidemics can spread and affect the world on a global level. When an epidemic reaches world-wide proportions, it becomes a pandemic. This can only happen if the people are not immune to a specific disease. Weak immune system can let the bacteria affect you greatly, while a strong one can prevent these infections from ever occurring.
Facts about Epidemics
Usually, epidemics take place once a new virus or bacteria has been created, the likes of which our bodies have never faced before. For example, the common flu virus evolves constantly. These changes in the virus make our organism less immune to it, thus making it possible for us to get infected. As for bacterial infections triggering pandemic, in our recent history, we had vibrio cholerae, which triggered cholera.
All in all, bacteria have evolved as well and have found many different ways of affecting us. Thus, researches need to be done on our microscopic enemies, helping us develop defenses against their future attacks. The history of epidemics like the previously mentioned ones, along with small pox or Black death, has taught us to be wiser in the future. So, vaccines are being developed, as well as specific medications which can help us be safe from armies of pathogenic bacteria yet to come.
Your thoughts on this
Loading...