Summary of Agents

In the summer of 2007, 6 fatal cases of infection occurred in the United States, all young males (Medscape)

When someone is infected with norovirus, the virus mainly affects the small intestine. The disease is usually self-limiting, with symptoms including: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Lethargy, weakness, headaches and muscle aches, and fevers may occur. 

Parainfluenza viruses are the groups of viruses that cause parainfluenza. There are four different forms of HPIV cause an infection in the respiratory area of a person’s body. Symptoms of parainfluenza are like the common cold, like a fever, cough, wheezing, and sore throat.

Poliovirus is the virus that causes polio. Most people who get infected with poliovirus will not show any visible symptoms. Some will have flu like symptoms, like sore throat, fever, and stomach pain. A small proportion of people infected with poliovirus may develop more serious problems, like paralysis and meningitis. 

Prion-related diseases are relentlessly progressive and invariably lead to death (Medscape)

P. aeruginosa is a bacterium that can cause severe infection in immunocompromised individuals or patients in the hospital. Infections of the blood, pneumonia, and other infections following a surgery are caused by this bacterium. Mild ear infections and skin rashes can occur when the bacterium affects healthy people.

During a 6-week period in 2003 in a long term care facility for elderly persons, 56 residents and 26 staff developed respiratory illness in a long-term facility; 12 residents died (Louie et al, 2005)

For Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), the overall mortality rate is 4%, despite effective antibiotic therapy (Medscape)

Rotavirus was estimated to be the cause of 37 deaths annually when data were extrapolated to the US population (Fischer et al, 2007)

Rubella virus causes the disease rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in pregnancy. Rubella has symptoms like the flu, however, the most important symptom is the appearance of a rash on the face that spreads. Other symptoms include: fever, swollen glands, and joint pains. Rare problems that could arise are brain inflammation and ear infection. Congenital rubella syndrome is present in newborns. A pregnant woman who has contracted rubella passes it on to the fetus. The classic three symptoms are: deafness, eye abnormalities, and congenital heart disease. Other symptoms may be: spleen and liver problems, intellectual disability, and low birth weight. In many cases, pregnant women may lose their child, due to a miscarriage.