Smallpox, a highly contagious disease, is unique only to humans. The smallpox virus is caused by two virus variants called Variola major and Variola minor. Variola major is the more deadly form of the virus; it usually has a mortality rte of 20-40 percent of those that are infected with the virus. Variola minor on the other hand is much less severe and only kills 1% of its victims. Neither of the Variola’s are bugs that you want to get. Avoid them at all costs! Due to ulcerations of the cornea, many survivors of the smallpox virus are left in one or both of their eyes. Often times they will also have constant skin scarring. Over the 20th century the smallpox virus was responsible for an estimated 200-450 million deaths. After successfully completing several vaccination campaigns the World Health Organization(WHO) in 1979 stated that smallpox virus had been eradicated. Cultures of the virus are always kept at the Disease Control and Prevention which is located in the United States of America, as well as in the Institue of Virus Preparations that is in Siberia, Russia. After 1970 the vaccination was stopped in most places of the world, as the risks of the vaccination include death, among other side effects that aren’t meant to joke around with. After the anthraz attacks on the United Sates in 2001, there have been several concerns that smallpox has/will resurface and possibly become a virus for us in bioterrorism. These concerns have in turn raised more concerns about the availability of vaccine stocks. The concerns are soo great in fact that, President George W. Bush of the U.S.A. has ordered all of his American military personnel to be vaccinated against smallpox and has implemented a voluntary program for vaccinating emergency medical personnel.

Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) affects an estimated 2 million people over the age of 18. Unfortunately, severe symptoms associated with either manic episodes, depression (or both) can cause difficulties in holding down a regular job. In fact, working may become impossible for some bipolars. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has disability benefit programs in place for those with severe bipolar who are unable to work due to the disorder. These are five commonly-asked questions about disability benefits: #1: How can I prove I’m disabled by my bipolar disorder? SSA has certain criteria they use to establish any kind of disability, whether related to physical or mental disorders. First, your disorder must be severe enough to keep you from working more than just a minimal amount. Second, it must be diagnosed by a medical professional, typically a physician or psychologist. (A psychiatrist is a type of physician.) Third, it must be expected to last at least 12 months. Additionally, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder commonly involves a number of signs and symptoms that SSA looks at when determining whether someone qualifies for disability benefits. These symptoms could be present in either depressive or manic syndromes, and include things such as:  Appetite and/or sleep disturbance  Hyperactivity or a lack of energy  Difficulty concentrating  Involvement in high-risk activities  Loss of interest in activities  Feelings of guilt or worthlessness or inflated self-esteem  Hallucinations, delusions or paranoid thinking  Thoughts of suicide  Repeated episodes that affect your ability to function normally Of course, there are many factors that SSA will look at. They will want documentation from your health providers and possibly your family, friends or others who know you. #2: What are my chances of winning? Unfortunately, the average approval rating for disability claims at the initial level is only about 25-30%. Why? Most claims lack significant pieces of information. For this reason, most successful disability applicants seek some kind of help, either from a professional advocate or specialized information and help source. #3: How long will it take? Most initial claims are decided in 3-4 months. Some take more, some less. If your claim has to go through the appeals process, it can take another 6-12 months — occasionally, even longer. This is why it is important to present a strong case from the very beginning, to expedite the success of your claim. #4: What if my claim is denied? Don’t give up! If your initial claim is denied, you have the opportunity to appeal and request a hearing. (Some states have two lower levels prior to the hearing level.) The hearing before a judge is really your best chance to win. However, it is not smart to go in unprepared. You need to present a strong and convincing case to sway the judge enough to award you benefits. Preparation, including good documentation of your bipolar condition and its effect on your ability to work, is essential to your claim’s success. #5: What kind of benefits will I receive? Disability benefits include monthly checks which vary, depending upon the program you fall under. There are two main disability programs under Social Security. The SSDI program is based primarily on your work history; monthly checks average around $900. The SSI program is based on financial need and resources; it helps those without a steady work history. Everyone gets the same amount under SSI – around $600/month maximum. Of course, many benefit winners receive a back benefit check which can be many thousands of dollars; this is one reason why it is important to apply as soon as you become eligible. Other benefits include health and medical benefits (Medicare and/or Medicaid), newly-established prescription drug benefits, and even continued benefits while trying to go back to work, if your situation improves.

I am Malaria, an infectious disease. Every year I kill approximately one point three million humans, and infect another 350-500 million. My work is mostly in the tropics where favorable climates and lifestyles aid in my process. Over 85% of deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Do I have your attention?Why I exist– I exist because as a result of the protozoan parasite. My mode of transit between humans for transmission is by mosquitos. Mosquitos are favorable as they are vast and persistent in their work, as I am in mine. Although everyone is vulnerable to my attacks, it is pregnant women and infants under the age of five that I have the most success with. A french army doctor names Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran first discovered me, and was awarded the Nobel prize for Physiology in 1907. (I am still waiting for my turn to win the award). It was Alphonse, Charles that was the first person to be able to describe my life cycle, as I develop in the bodies of mosquitos and of my many human hosts.Do you have me?– Your starting to get a feeling for who I am; but how do you know if you have me? Trust me you’ll know! I can cause several things, aka Symtoms of Malaria. My specialties include but are not limited to: fever, shivering, arthralgia, vomiting, anemia, and if your looking for a really fun one: convulsions. Sometimes individuals will even feel a tingling sensation in their skin.Why should you be listening to me?If it isn’t my sleek lines or ingenuity you should be paying attention because of numbers. The number of victims every year that are infected with my virus. Infections are dangerous and complications with me, malaria, include coma and death if untreated. Young children again are especially vulnerable.My specialty– Like I mentioned before I have chosen mosquitos and in particular the females ones to get around. When a female bites a person(if they have the correct sporozoites in their salivary glands, they will transfer the me, the virus, into the remote human body. I will then work my way into the liver where I will multiply inside of the hepatic liver cells. It is there where I will turn into merozoites, and enter into red blood cells, where I will continue to multiple. Sometimes if a relationship goes sour witin a red blood cell, I will break out, and move on. It is at this point of «break out» in which you will begin to experience waves of fever. These waves generally occur every 2-3 days. Ingenuity is what I call it when I stick inside of the liver and the red blood cells so that your immune sytem cannot ask me to leave. It is when relationships are good and I remain in the blood cells long enough to create surface protiens so that I can stick onto the walls of blood vessels, otherwise I see my fate, and am destroyed in the spleen. Because my surface protiens come in so many variations they can easily out smart your immune system, and I remain. Even when your immune system catched on to what I’m up to, I’ve already put on a new coat, and guess what. It’ll have to start from scratch. You can see how me hanging about in your blood vessels causes complications in your system.

It is not easy to deal with your fears, anxieties, or any type of mental disorder. If you have such a problem, the first step is that you should talk to a professional who can get you started in the right path of getting better. Getting help from a counselor or other professional is very important and can provide you much help and insights in dealing with your current problem. Getting help from a professional should be the first thing you do in getting better. In the meantime, here are some techniques a person can use to help manage their fears, anxieties, and other issues. Learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week or coming month, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. Focus on the present and stop trying to predict what may happen next week. Next week will take care of itself. A good way to manage your problem is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make your fearful or anxious, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success. Sometimes, we may be nervous doing a certain task that may be scary. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you and your team have to play in the championship hockey game in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, imagine yourself playing the game in your mind. Imagine that your playing in front of a large audience. By playing the game in your mind, you will be better prepared to perform for real when the time comes. Self Visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation. Sometimes we encounter a scary situation that gets us all upset. When encountering these events, always remember to get all of the facts of the given situation. Gathering the facts can prevent us from relying on exaggerated and fearful assumptions. By focusing on the facts, a person can rely on what is reality and what is not. As a Layman, I realize it is not easy to deal with all of our fears and other problems, however there are all kinds of help available. Remember to take advantage of the help that is around you. The key is to be patient and not to give up. In time, you will be able to find those resources that will help you with your problems.