Key points Pre-vaccine era Francis Home, a Scottish physician, demonstrated in 1757 that measles is caused by an infectious agent in the blood of patients.

At a glance Why it’s important Older adults have a higher risk of getting sick from food poisoning and having a more serious illness. To

Key points Overview In the United States, people are usually exposed to rabies by coming in contact with wild animals infected with the virus. They

Overview Dipylidium caninum is a common tapeworm of dogs and cats in the United States and throughout the world. Dogs and cats get Dipylidium tapeworm by swallowing a

Key points Preventing tick bites on people Before you go outdoors After you come indoors Reducing risk of tick exposure around homes Apply pesticides outdoors

Key points What it is Spina bifida is a condition that affects the spine and is usually apparent at birth. It is a type of

Key points Why it’s important Folic acid is a form of folate, which is a B vitamin. It helps your body make new cells (for

Key points Populations impacted Research shows that some women in the United States do not get enough folic acid to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs).

What to know Overview Pets, like people, naturally carry bacteria and other germs We love our pets. Many of us have pet dogs and cats,

Key points Overview Emergencies come in many forms: fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, violent storms, and even terrorism. Leaving pets out of evacuation plans can