Diseases

This Surf Report features selected Web sites that provide information about diseases and infection. (Please note that some sites in the high school section include illustrations and information about health topics that might not be considered appropriate for some students. Teachers are advised to preview these Web pages before using them in the classroom.)

Flu Epidemic | Elementary / Middle School | High School

Flu and Pandemic Resources

Wisconsin's Pandemic Flu Resource provides information on swine, avian and seasonal flu, prevention tips, information for schools and the community, and links to comprehensive pandemic planning information.

Influenza Lectures from Wisconsin Public Television teach about pandemic flu, antiviral resistance and avian and swine flu.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) page provides statistics on the flu outbreak, information on the US response and factual information for the public including video podcasts in English and Spanish.

The World Health Organization (WHO) providesInfluenza A(H1N1) Epidemic information, including guidance on hand-washing with a printable poster, and daily situation updates including maps of the world showing confirmed cases and deaths.

Find information on Swine Flu for Kids at the KidsHealth Web site from the Nemours Foundation, and on Swine Flu for Teens at the TeensHealth site.

Check your grade level category below for more resources on influenza and epidemics.

Elementary and Middle School Sites

KidsHealth from the Nemours Center for Children's Health Media provides multimedia features and information tailored for children on a variety of health topics including Everyday Illnesses and Injuries, Staying Healthy, My Body and Kids Health Problems. The site includes a search function and a glossary of medical terms.

Infection, Detection, Protection from the American Museum of Natural History is a multimedia exhibit designed to help students, families and teachers understand what causes infectious disease and what they can do to help prevent it. The site combines simple information with games such as How Lou got the Flu and The Mixed up Microbe Mystery.

When Someone in Your Family has Cancer from the National Cancer Institute contains information on the disease, it's treatment and how it affects the family. The site includes suggestions for children affected by cancer.

Kids Online from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation provides kid-friendly information on the disease, its management, as well as a gallery of writing and artwork by children with diabetes.

All About Vaccines from the FDA provides a simple explanation of how vaccines work, and describes the typical childhood diseases for which vaccines are given.

Infection Dissection from the University of Wisconsin's Why Files? examines the facts about Ebola and other emerging viruses. Other Why Files articles explore the science behind malaria, AIDS and influenza and bird flu.

Medical Mysteries is a problem-based adventure game that engages players in the role of scientist, historian, and detective. There are three MedMyst missions, which help students learn how infectious diseases are spread. The site from Rice University also contains complete teacher guides and additional printable materials for students.

BAM! Disease Detectives from the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention features

High School Sites

TeensHealth from the Nemours Center for Children's Health Media contains health information and resources about diseases and conditions that can affect teens.

CDC Diseases and Conditions is a Web Site from the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention which includes a clickable alphabetical listing of chronic diseases and conditions, infectious diseases, bleeding disorders, and risk factors.

Influenza from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases presents a complete picture of the disease, including information about flu symptoms, treatment, vaccine and the virus itself. Features such as graphs, charts and an electron micrograph picture of the virus add interest to the site. The entire document may be downloaded and printed.

The Center for Disease Control's Influenza site includes information about the flu, flu vaccine and flu facts and myths. The weekly flu information and a flu map of the U.S. would make interesting content for graph and map reading activities.

Meningococcal Infections from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases describes the disease and its treatment and prevention. Features include graphs, charts and photographs of the bacteria and the rash that is typical of the disease.

Common Cold from doctors at the University of Virginia School of Medicine provides a comprehensive look at the disease including symptoms, treatment, prevention and common myths.

Cancer Warrior from PBS NOVA chronicles the work and discoveries of a cancer researcher at at Children's Hospital in Boston. Included are microscope views of stages in cancer growth, animations of its growth, the complete NOVA episode online and a teacher's guide.

Surviving AIDS, from PBS NOVA explores the AIDS epidemic and the research into cures and vaccines. The site includes animations and interactive activities and a teacher's guide.

Influenza 1918 from PBS American Experience presents the story of a major epidemic in the United States. The site includes maps, a timeline and a teacher's guide.

The Deadly Virus: the Influenza Epidemic of 1918 from the National Archives presents primary source documents for use in studying this major disaster in world history.

Health Information on Diabetes from the National Institutes of Health presents many text resources on diabetes, some in Spanish.

In Epidemic, the American Museum of Natural History examines how the complex mix of ecology, evolution, and culture produce conditions in which disease-causing microbes can thrive. The site includes information on microbes, how infections spread and can be prevented, and case studies on historical and present day epidemics of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, hantavirus.

Interactive Health Tutorials from the U.S. National Library of Medicine provides illustrated and animated introductions to many diseases and conditions such as anthrax, asthma, breast cancer, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, and many more. Each tutorial includes information such as symptoms, treatment, and prevention of the disease. An audio option makes these tutorials accessible to students with limited reading ability.

Fighting Disease: Health at the end of the Millenium is a six-unit curriculum from the United Nations. It covers topics such as the spread of disease, povery and disease, prevention and immunization and each unit include information tailored for grades 5-7 and 8-11. The site includes a glossary and information on the diseases such as yellow fever, typhoid fever, polio, ebola and more.

Health and Research Topics from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases features information on immune system disorders and diseases and a good outline of how the body defends itself from infectious diseases.

TeensHealth from the Nemours Center for Children's Health Media presents health issues for geared for teens. The section on Diseases and Conditions includes information on a large number of infections, diseases and conditions as well as personal stories.

The ADAM Health Illustrated Encyclopedia from the U.S. National Library of Medicine provides definitions of many diseases and conditions.

MedLine Plus from the National Institutes of Health provides information on many diseases for the general public.

On the Teen Scene from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides fact sheets on medications and diseases of interest to teens such as acne medications, cosmetics, eating disorders, yeast infections, attention disorders and mono.

Health Topics A - Z from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides information on many diseases and the efforts to prevent and control their spread.

AIDS: Where are we Now? from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation presents an overview of the AIDS epidemic over the past 20 years. http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/aids

BioInteractive from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute allows students to simulate diagnoses of various diseases in the Bacterial ID Lab, Cardiology Lab or other virtual labs. The site also features animations and exhibits on microbiology and disease. This site is most appropriate for advanced students.

Diseases and Conditions from the Mayo Clinic contains information on hundreds of diseases from A to Z.

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