Infectious diseases are diseases that can be carried by people and passed on. They can be transmitted in a number of different ways. Infectious disease can be transmitted through the air, through close physical contact and through touch. Often they are carried by fleas and animals. Infectious disease is very hard to identify, prevent and cure as they often have several strains (types) and often have early symptoms not dissimilar to much less harmful viruses.

The fight against infectious disease: pages within this unit

What is an Infectious Disease? A Glossary of Infectious Diseases, Edward Jenner, Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, Vaccination, The Development of Drugs, Paul Ehrlich, Gerhard Domagk, Alexander Fleming, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, The importance of Penicillin, Factors affecting the development of drugs and treatments.

Activities within the Unit

Recommended textbooks and revision guides