Communicable Diseases

Do you know that the cold and flu are caused by 2 different type of virus? How much do you know about bird flu?

Flu, which is also known as Influenza, is much more serious than cold and Influenza can be very serious and fatal. Influenza can spread directly and indirectly from one living person to another.

Come to the talk to learn how to prevent yourself from catching the flu virus and how does the vaccination helps.

Talk Outline

• What is Influenza?
• Influenza virus change and mutate
• Mode of spread
• High risk groups
• Influenza complications
• Precautions
• Prevention
• Vaccination

Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world. It is 50 to 100 times more infectious than the HIV virus. 1 in 35 adult Singaporeans are Hepatitis B carriers. Liver cancer is the 3rd most common cancer among Singaporean men and the main risk factor is hepatitis B.

Join us in this talk to find out more about Hepatitis B!

Talk Outline

• What is Hepatitis B?
• Complications of Hepatitis B
• Functions of our livers
• Misconceptions about Hepatitis B
• How do you get infected with Hepatitis B?
• Acute or Chronic Hepatitis B
• Symptoms of Hepatitis B
• What should I do if I am at risk?
• How should I protect myself from Hepatitis B?

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common infection in the world. Incidence rate of TB among Singapore residents has risen for the first time in 10 years. About 1/3 of the world's population is infected and 2/3 of these are in the Asia-Pacific region. It is estimated that between 2002 and 2020, approximately 1000 million people will be newly infected, over 150 million people will get sick, and 36 million will die of TB if control is not further strengthened.

Talk Outline

• Some historical perspective of the treatment options in the past
• How TB spreads and how to prevent it
• Symptoms of TB
• Prevention of TB - What is in place in Singapore?
• TB can be cured– even among HIV+ patients
• Treatment of TB - including an overview of duration; where to receive; importance of adherence and completion of TB treatment.

Rubella, also known as German measles, is a highly infectious viral infection that commonly affects children. More & more adolescence and adults are getting infected as they are not immunised against rubella. Statistics have shown that there are more infected adults than children now.

So, you might be at RISK!

Talk Outline

• What is Rubella?
• What is the situation in Singapore?
• Who is at Risk?
• How does a person get infected?
• What are the symptoms of Rubella Infection?
• How to prevent Rubella Infection?
• Are there any controversies in MMR vaccine?

Although HIV/AIDS is perceived by many to be a homosexual disease, the truth is, in Singapore, the most common mode of infection is through sex between men and women (heterosexual intercourse).

Arm yourself with the ABCs of HIV and protect yourself as well as others.

Talk Outline

• The seriousness of HIV/AIDS
• The different modes of transmission
• The dangers associated with high risk behaviours such as having casual sex, having sex with multiple partners, having sex with commercial sex workers, intravenous drug use, and receiving blood that is contaminated with the HIV
• The importance of maintaining a safe, single-partner relationship
• The importance of going for early and regular HIV screening if one practises high risk behaviours
• Where can you go for screening and counseling if you are exposed to risky behaviours