Communicable Diseases Resources

Anthrax is an infection caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

Chikungunya virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms of infection are fever and joint pain.

Hepatitis A virus causes an infection of the liver. The virus is passed in a person’s feces (stool).

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus is in blood and other body fluids.
Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV is in the blood, semen, other body fluids, and tissues of persons infected by HCV.
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and, rarely, Borrelia mayonii. Click here to learn more about Lyme Disease in Cecil County.
Meningitis can be caused by many different germs, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Viral meningitis (also called aseptic meningitis) is the most common type of meningitis.
MRSA is a type of infection caused by Staph bacteria that is resistant to some common antibiotics such as penicillin. “Community-associated MRSA” is a form of this infection recognized in recent years.
Norovirus infection is common. It is often seen in the winter among children in schools and childcare settings and residents and employees of nursing homes.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. The bacterium is called Streptococcus pneumoniae (“pneumococci”).
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system in warm-blooded animals.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain.

Zika virus is a disease that is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.

Sexually Transmitted Communicable Diseases

Chlamydia trachomatis is the bacterium that causes chlamydia and trachoma, an eye disease. Learn more here.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the bacterium that causes gonorrhea.

Genital HPV infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.