GIANTmicrobes Plush - Biohazards

Ebola
Although the origins of Ebola hemorrhagic fever are unknown, the virus was first recognized in 1976 near the Ebola river in the Congo in Africa. You do not want to get Ebola. A short incubation period of 2 to 21 days presages symptoms which include fever, aches, sore throat and weakness, followed by diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, internal and external bleeding, and often times death.

Fortunately, cases occur only sporadically. So if you’re under the weather, don’t worry: you probably have something else.

Toxic Mold
Stachybotrys (or straw mold) is a black, toxic fungus that first achieved recognition in the 1930’s when horses on Russian farms became sick after eating contaminated hay. More recently, Stachy has been implicated as a cause of “sick building syndrome.”

While the mold itself is not pathogenic, it does produce toxins that can cause a variety of health problems. The best way to keep toxic mold from establishing itself near you is to keep indoor humidity below 60% and to address any moisture problems immediately.

Anthrax
Though the word “anthrax” conjures up fearsome thoughts of biological weapons, anthrax is a once-common disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

Nearly all human anthrax infections are found on the skin. These infections are rarely fatal and more or less non-contagious. However, gastrointestinal and inhalational anthrax infections – which result from ingesting or inhaling anthrax – can be deadly.

TB
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a disease caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. TB can infect any part of the body, but typically targets the lungs and throat.

Although TB symptoms vary depending on which part of the body the disease infects, symptoms of TB of the lungs typically include: bad cough lasting more than two weeks, coughing up blood or sputum, chest pain, fever, fatigue, chills, and weight loss.

Brain-Eating Amoeba
Brain-eating amoeba, or Naegleria fowleri to its friends, is a fearsome predator that lurks in warm fresh-water lakes, rivers, and springs. It is not technically an amoeba, but in fact can morph like a sci-fi villain into three different body shapes.

Swimmers who are partial to natural environments must be on their guard against this foul demon. If inhaled up the nose, it can travel into the brain and cause the highly fatal primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).