Dangerous Bacteria

Information about serious bacterial diseases that have shaped human history and public health. Articles examine conditions from plague and anthrax to meningitis and Lyme disease.

Do People Still Get Leprosy?

Leprosy still affects a quarter million people globally, including new cases appearing in the USA and Europe each year.

Do People Still Get the Plague?

Yes, plague still exists today in isolated pockets around the world, though it's extremely rare in modern Europe.

Eye Witness Account: The Misery of Cholera

A Zimbabwean student describes the devastating human toll of the 2008 cholera outbreak, from collapsed water systems to overwhelming fear across communities.

How Can People Catch Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease spreads through infected tick bites and causes vague symptoms like fatigue and headaches, often with a telltale rash.

Is Tetanus the Same as Lock-jaw?

Tetanus and lockjaw are the same infection caused by bacteria that enter through wounds and trigger severe muscle contractions.

People with Leprosy Still Live in Fear

Leprosy still affects thousands in India, but stigma and manipulated health data prevent people from getting help.

Q Fever: The World's Most Infectious Disease

A bacterial infection spread by farm animals and pets can cause severe flu-like illness from just a single bacterium.

Trachoma and Blindness

A bacterial infection causes preventable blindness in millions of people worldwide, hitting hardest in the poorest countries.

What Causes Scarlet Fever?

Scarlet fever is caused by a Group A Streptococcus bacteria that produces a sore throat, bright red tongue, and distinctive scarlet rash.

What Is Bacterial Meningitis?

Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection of the membranes around your brain and spinal cord that requires immediate treatment with antibiotics.

Which Bacterium Causes the Plague?

Yersinia pestis is the bacterium responsible for plague, a disease that killed millions across medieval Europe and beyond.

Why Is Anthrax So Feared?

Anthrax spores can survive for centuries and infect humans through contaminated meat or direct contact with infected animals.