Pneumococcal disease
Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus, it attacks different parts of body and causes serious infections of the lungs, blood, covering of the brain and spinal cord and middle ear. It is spread through direct and indirect contact with respiratory secretions of an infected person, usually requires frequent or prolonged close contact.

Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B causes the liver to become inflamed and unable to function properly. It can also lead to permanent inflammation and scarring of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer. It’s spread by direct contact with blood or bodily fluids such as vaginal fluid or semen.

HPV infection and cervical cancer
Some HPV strains can infect the genital area and cause genital warts. And some can cause cervical cancer and other type of cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva and back of the throat. It can be spread via skin to skin contact e.g. sexual activity.

Influenza
Influenza is commonly known as the flu, it’s a contagious disease that attacks the respiratory tract in humans (nose, throat and lungs). Symptoms include high fever, sore throat, coughing, headache, muscle aches and stuffy nose.

Severe case of influenza can lead to pneumonia and other complications such as bronchitis, sinusitis, ear infection and meningitis – especially in the elderly and those with chronic conditions. It can spread via respiratory droplet and direct or indirect contact with nasal or throat secretions.

Measles
A highly contagious disease, with symptoms that include high fever, cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, small white spots which may form inside the mouth and rash that appear on the face and spread to the rest of body. Complications include diarrhea, ear infection, bronchitis, pneumonia and encephalitis, and can result in permanent impairment (e.g. deafness, intellectual disability) and death. Transmission is airborne and occurs through respiratory droplets and direct contact with nasal or throat secretions.

Mumps
The primary sign is swollen salivary glands that cause the cheeks to puff out. Other symptoms comprise pain while chewing or swallowing, fever, headache, muscle aches, weakness and fatigue, and loss of appetite. Complications include pancreatitis, orchitis, encephalitis, meningitis. Transmission occurs through direct and indirect contact through respiratory droplets and saliva of an infected person.

Rubella
Rubella is also called German measles, or three-day measles which is a contagious viral infection. The symptoms which are often mild comprise low fever, headache, runny nose, enlarged tender lymph nodes at the base of skull, the back of the neck and behind the ears, fine pink rash that begins on the face and spreads to the trunk, arms and leg. Transmission occurs through respiratory droplets and direct contact with nasopharyngeal secretions.

Tetanus
A serious disease caused by a bacteria that affects the nervous system, leading to painful muscle tightening, particularly of the jaw and neck muscle. It can interfere with one’s ability to breathe and threaten life. There is no cure for tetanus. Treatment focus on managing complications until toxin resolves. Tetanus can be acquired through infections via cuts and wounds.

Diphtheria
A disease that can cause build up of a thick coating at the back of the throat, and can lead to difficulty in breathing, airway obstruction, respiratory failure, heart failure, paralysis, and even death. It is spread through physical contact or droplets when an infected person sneeze and cough. Transmission can also occur through direct contact with discharging skin lesions.

Pertussis
Also known as Whooping cough, it resembles the common cold at first but will worsen and can cause uncontrollable coughing due to thick mucus in the airways. Infants may not cough at all, instead they will struggle to breathe or may even temporarily stop breathing.

It can lead to complication such as pneumonia, slowed or stopped breathing, seizures and brain damage, in worst case it can lead to death. Transmission occurs through respiratory droplets or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of an infected person. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease.

Varicella (Chickenpox)
A contagious viral disease that causes an itchy rash that lasts about a week. The scalp, face, limb and trunk are all involved, with relatively sparing of palms and soles. Conjunctival and oral mucosal lesions may be present. It also causes fever, tiredness, loss of appetite and headache. More serious complications can include skin infections, pneumonia, inflammation of blood vessels, swelling of brain and/or spinal cords covering, infections of the blood stream, bone or joints. It can be spread via the airborne route via droplets aerosol or direct contact or indirectly by touching freshly soiled, contaminated items, or by direct contact with vesicle fluid of skin lesions. Chickenpox is highly contagious.