I spend a lot of time staring at my phone…

Like a lot of people today, I spend hours staring at my phone.

I just don't get much out of it.

 

Mystery of the White Pickup

 Mystery of the White Pickup

Steven B. Zwickel

February, 2025

If you have been following the news, you know that the past year has been one of unusual weather in the United States. We’ve had tornados, droughts, derechos (a line of intense, widespread, and fast-moving windstorms and sometimes thunderstorms that moves across a great distance and is characterized by damaging winds), record-setting heatwaves, and flooding.

But, if you look carefully, you may start to see one image that keeps popping up—again and again—whenever and wherever there’s high water.

I first noticed it a few months ago, when I had the strange feeling that the news I was watching on TV was a re-run of something I had seen before. The images showed muddy water rushing over a drowned roadway with a half-submerged white pickup truck.

Then I saw a similar picture of a white pickup truck in a flooded area on another newscast.

And it happened again, and again, and again.

Am I dreaming? Could  it be  the same guy in the same pickup? Are white pickups cursed? What is going on here?

You don’t need to search online for “white pickup in flood.” I already did that. This is just part of what came up:

Scary stuff, folks.

My Guiding Lights

Steven B. Zwickel, 

January 22, 2025

When I was teaching Technical Writing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, I used to get a magazine called NASA Tech Briefs <https://www.techbriefs.com/>. The best part for me was a section where readers asked for help solving engineering problems because it provided me with many good ideas for student projects. In 2003 the magazine promoted a "Create the Future" design contest and put out a call for new ideas.

Although I was the first to use computer graphics to create presentation visuals, I am not an engineer and have no technical training. But I entered this contest and, to my surprise, I won a Merit Prize. My idea came when I was a passenger on a commercial airline flight. Before takeoff the cabin attendants demonstrate how to use seatbelts, oxygen masks, and where to find the exits. On one particular flight, they pointed down to the aisle and told passengers that, should the cabin fill with smoke, we could find our way to the exits by following lights along the floor. My idea was to do the same thing in any building where people might need help getting out in the event of a fire.

I did look into getting a patent, but was unsuccessful. I also discussed having my idea turned into a manufactured product, but that also didn't pan out. I was told that if the building code didn't require these light strips, no contractor would install them in a building. 

I still think this is a good idea and I hope someone will turn it into reality. In 2021, there were 3,800 deaths from smoke inhalation in the United States <https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/fire-loss-in-the-united-states>.

Here is my 2003 contest entry:

 GUIDING LIGHT

Smoke is one of the deadliest dangers people face when a building catches fire.

Burning furniture, carpeting, and construction materials can release clouds of dense, toxic smoke that can disorient and, eventually, kill anyone unlucky enough to be caught inside. Recognizing that this same danger exists on airplanes, the airlines found a way to guide passengers out of a burning plane quickly and efficiently. I propose taking a page from the airlines' book and adapting a similar method to make buildings safer.

When passengers board a commercial plane, the cabin crew directs their attention to a row of lights on the floor along the aisle. These lights come on in an emergency and serve to guide passengers to the exits. Smoke is warmer than the surrounding air, so it will rise. The theory behind having safety lights near the floor is that they will remain visible, even if the cabin starts to fill up with smoke.

My plan is to use the same strip of lights to guide people out of burning buildings. Each light is made up of LEDs in the shape of an arrow, pointing towards the nearest exit. Five arrows are mounted on an eight-foot long strip. The light strips would be attached to the baseboards in hallways (Fig. 1) and stairwells (Fig. 2).

Power for the GUIDING LIGHT strips is provided by a combination of wall outlets and batteries. Batteries would be used when a wall outlet is not available. Where a wall outlet is available, batteries act as backup to power from a wall outlet, so that the system will work even if power goes out. A light on the receiver/ activator indicates when batteries are fully charged and/or when the power source is on. (Fig. 3)

The GUIDING LIGHT system includes special smoke detectors equipped with radio transmitters. Each strip of lights has a radio receiver and lights are activated by a radio signal sent from the nearest smoke detector. The lights would be activated whenever smoke detectors go off and they would remain on until manually re-set or until destroyed by fire.

While most building codes require illuminated exit lights to guide people in the event of an emergency, these are almost always mounted on the ceiling or up over doorways. As smoke fills hallways and stairwells from the top down, these exit signs are obscured from view. The GUIDING LIGHT system is attached to the walls just a few inches above the floor-one of the last areas to fill with smoke. Super-bright LED displays make it far more visible than conventional incandescent bulbs. Anyone who crouches or crawls to avoid the smoke will be able to see the GUIDING LIGHT strips.

This system is appropriate for any setting in which people need to be evacuated from a building quickly. In smoke and haze, it offers a way for people to orient themselves. It would be useful in public buildings that have a lot of visitors who are unfamiliar with the premises and who are more likely to get lost. The GUIDING LIGHT is particularly suited to places where the age and physical ability of people might keep them from finding the exits on their own-such as in schools, dormitories, senior citizen housing, and nursing facilities.

Fair Games

 Fair Games

Steven B. Zwickel

January, 2025

There has been a lot in the news this past year about whether it is fair to let transgender athletes compete against people who remain the same sex they were at birth, particularly in certain sports where physical strength plays a significant role. For example, males typically have greater muscle mass and bone density than females, which could give transgender women a physical advantage even after hormone therapy.

It seems wrong to deny anyone a chance to compete just because they have changed from one sex to another. But the real problem is how to be inclusive without giving anyone an unfair advantage. 

Could we follow the lead of boxing and wrestling, where athletes are assigned to different weight classes and compete against people in the same class? A weigh-in is held before a competition to ensure that each athlete's body weight is within the limits of his or her weight class. Granted, this attempt to be fair-er  is far from perfect and some coaches, and some athletes, have figured out ways to “game” the system. 

One way to solve this problem would be to use a mathematical approach. What if we used a formula for classifying athletes by more than just their weight? What if we were to multiply weight times height times age to get a numerical competition classification number {CN} for young athletes? A range of CNs could be used to create CN classes of athletes who are relatively similar.

To make the system even fairer, we could use a fourth multiplier that could reflect something like body fat percentage1 or power-to-weight ratio2. 

[Body Mass Index (BMI)3, something many people are familiar with, would be a good choice for the fourth multiplier, except that it is only useful for adults and doesn’t apply to children or adolescents who are still growing.]

The only real drawback to the CN system would be that it would probably require using the metric system, which is still unfamiliar to many Americans.

 Thus, W (in kilograms) X H (in centimeters) X Age (in months) X Body Fat Percentage in %) = CN. 

Athletes with similar CNs would be in one CN class, regardless of gender. Girls could play against boys in the same CN class, etc.

Problem solved.

--------------------------------------------------------------

1 Body fat percentage is the total mass of fat divided by total body mass, multiplied by 100. 

2 To calculate a person's power-to-weight ratio, you divide their maximum power output (measured in watts) by their body weight (in kilograms), resulting in a value expressed as "watts per kilogram" (W/kg). 

3 BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters

What an Awful Year

 What an Awful Year

Steven B. Zwickel

September, 2024

I was going through some old photos from the 1969–1970 school year and had a rush of memories. I was a Junior at Harpur College (SUNY-Binghamton) and, looking back more than 50 years, it was an awful time to be a teenage college student.

I think many people have forgotten what it was like at the end of the ’60s. 

On July 20, 1969, we were thrilled to learn that Americans had landed on the moon. We had fulfilled Pres. Kennedy's pledge to do it before the end of the decade and most of us were very proud. 

Another event that affected young people that summer was the original Woodstock music festival—sex, drugs, and rock—in mid-August, 1969. Some 500,000 people showed up for that event and many more have since claimed to have been there. By the time students returned to college that fall the sounds and sights of that massive event had become part of the youth culture. 

In 1969 the country was deeply divided: those opposed to the war were the “doves” and those who supported it were the “hawks.” Fashion denoted the divisions in American society. We young people—mostly, but certainly not all doves—wore bell bottom jeans, beads, colorful tie-dyed shirts, suede vests with fringes and beads, sandals. Coats and ties were for old people. We grew beards and let our hair grow long. Short haircuts—crewcuts and flattops—were for conservatives. We wore the peace symbol <https://www.britannica.com/story/where-did-the-peace-sign-come-from>.

1970 Button Peace sign

The ongoing war in Vietnam provided a constant background noise and vivid images. It was always there—on the radio and TV. A steady flow, a drum beat of death and fire and helicopters. Politicians and generals lying and predicting victory ”very soon”. The President claimed to have a “secret plan” for ending the war. Fifty-four years later, it’s still a secret. 

We woke up each morning to more awful news from Vietnam—fictional numbers of the dead, wounded, missing—and “body counts”,  issued by the US commanders to try to give the impression that our side was winning. 

At noon we heard right-wing hawk Paul Harvey extolling the bravery of our boys on his radio show “Paul Harvey News and Comment”, followed by Harvey’s The Rest of the Story how-about-that? stories which may or may not have been true. In the evening, we watched Walter Cronkite on the CBS Evening News. We had all heard his 1968 broadcast when he told the nation that the war in Vietnam was sure to end in a stalemate, not in the victory predicted by the US government. 

Each week we saw the latest issue of Life magazine, filled with photos from the battlefields of southeast Asia and pictures of grieving families at cemeteries in the US. Our campus radio station WHRW-FM got news from a teletype machine connected to the AP wire service and students like me read the latest headlines on the air.

Can you imagine what it was like on campus that year? Students who’d been apolitical and turned off by the rhetoric of the “New Left” (= the old left but with long hair and no bra) started paying attention to the anti-war movement. Students started joining “The Movement” and organizations like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Student Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (SMC), and the anti-racist Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC or “Snick”). We started marching. 

Harpur College - Thurs, March 19, 1970 Rennie Davis and Leonard Weinglass spoke in the Women's Gym – photo by Steven B. Zwickel

In September, 1969, the men who were the leaders of anti-war protests during the Chicago Republican National Convention in 1968—the Chicago Seven—were put on trial. Attorney Leonard Weinglass (Leonard Irving Weinglass Aug 1933–March 2011) was the workhorse of the defense, putting in long hours preparing for each day of testimony. 

       Weinglass and defendant Rennie Davis (Rennard Cordon Davis May 1940–Feb 2021) <https://famous-trials.com/chicago8/1337-davisr>,  the national coordinator for Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam came to Harpur College to talk about the trial in March, 1970. On February 20, 1970, Judge Hoffman sentenced five members of the Chicago Seven found guilty by the jury. (The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed all convictions on November 21, 1972.)

In October, 1969 a call went out for a Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam and there were  demonstrations and teach-ins at Harpur College. {a moratorium was defined as a pause in regular activities—a break during which people could focus on the impact of the war. At a teach-in, professors and other “experts” would talk about what they believed was happening in southeast Asia.} After the Pentagon Papers came out in 1971, we learned that a lot of what they said turned out to be true.

November 15, 1969 Button - Bring the troops home now

 The first Moratorium was on October 15, 1969 and a quarter of a million people marched in Washington. The President claimed that the anti-war movement was insignificant compared to the “Silent Majority” of Americans who supported the war. The first Moratorium followed by one week the “Days of Rage” protests in October, 1969 in Chicago, organized by the more radical and violent members of the SDS.

1969 Button March on Washington

On a cold day in November, 1969 several busloads of students traveled from Binghamton to attend a huge Moratorium March in Washington, D.C. More than 500,000 of us gathered on the Mall to hear speeches and to try to persuade the government to stop the war. Naively, we believed that Nixon and the Congress couldn’t possibly ignore the will of half-a-million people.  (We were successful and it only took 5 more years for the US to pull out of Vietnam!) 

The worst, for many of us, came on December 1, 1969, when the United States held its first draft lottery. Men were given  a random number that corresponded to their birthdays—the lower the number, the more likely a man was to be called up to military service. I remember the deathly quiet on the Harpur campus that night as the numbers were drawn. Everyone was tuned to the radio. It was a cold night, and most windows were shut, but when a birthday got a lower number, you could hear cries and groans from the dorms. A senior in my dorm put his hand through the wallboard. Others got drunk or stoned. 

Over the next few days, I heard people asking, “What’s your plan?” Some talked about going to Canada. A few were going to be conscientious objectors and do alternative service. Others came up with ideas for how they were going to fool the draft board or flunk the physical examination. {Arlo Guthrie’s 1967 song “Alice’s Restaurant” took on a new meaning.} 

We knew we were safe until we graduated from college, when we would lose our 2-S deferment and we’d be eligible for the draft. My draft number was #43, which meant I would almost certainly be called up if the war went on until  I graduated in May, 1971. While I truly hoped that the war would be over by then, I also knew that I would be in trouble if it were not. Several categories of jobs could lead to deferment, such as farming, the ministry, teaching, skilled labor, or working or doing research in the defense industry. 

I had no interest in teaching, but it could save me from being drafted, so I registered for my college’s Intro to Education course. Since Harpur College didn’t have a qualified prof for the class, they flew a professor in to Binghamton once a week to lead a 4-hour lecture. I’m sure she was a competent instructor, but I was so bored and disengaged that I dropped the course after 2 weeks. I had no idea what I would do when the draft came for me.

Meanwhile, the national anti-war movement was continuing to gain momentum. According to CBS News Gallup Polls in 1967 32% of Americans thought sending US troops to Vietnam was a mistake. By 1970, it was 57%, and by 1971 60% of Americans thought the war was a mistake. <https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-poll-u-s-involvement-in-vietnam>

At the same time, supporters of the war were also becoming more active and more vocal. There were clashes between anti-war and pro-war demonstrators and the spring of 1970 became one of the most violent in history. Families were torn apart: the older WWII/Korean War generation believed American men had a patriotic duty to serve, whereas young Baby Boomers rejected the idea that they had to fight in a war they didn’t believe in.

A part of the SDS became The Weather Underground and engaged in domestic terrorism, according to the FBI. They built and detonated bombs. Buildings were destroyed and people were wounded and killed. 

In the middle of all this chaos, we learned in April, 1970 that the Beatles—the most popular band in the world—were breaking up. We were moved that year by Paul McCartney’s “The Long and Winding Road” which we took to be a song of loss and change. The very first Earth Day was April 22, 1970. There were a few activities on campus and I still have a button commemorating that event.

1970 Button from the first Earth Day

By late spring in 1970, there were calls for a nationwide student anti-war strike in response to the expansion of the war into Cambodia. The communist North Vietnamese army had conquered nearly one-third of Cambodia and were supposedly using it as a route to supply their forces in Vietnam.  President Nixon gave a nationally televised speech on April 30, 1970 in which he announced he was going to attack the communists in Cambodia. {We later learned that, in March 1969, Nixon had secretly ordered Operation Breakfast—the US Air Force was sent to bomb Cambodia. It came back to bite him n 1974, when Rep. John Conyers introduced a motion of impeachment against Nixon for the bombing of Cambodia. The motion was not taken up because the House was busy dealing with the Watergate scandal. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Menu>} 

The strike began May 1 with students walking out of classrooms at some 900 college and high school campuses. 

After  the shooting deaths  of four students at Kent State University in Ohio by National Guardsmen on May 4, 1970 the number and size of protests increased dramatically. A few violent incidents occurred during the protests but, for the most part, they were peaceful. In June, 1970, a song by Neil Young—"Ohio"—written in response to the Kent State shootings was released. “Young’s song became an anthem for anti-war sentiment and a powerful reminder of the consequences of political conflict and violence. The lyrics reflect both personal grief and a broader societal critique, resonating deeply with the feelings of many during that era.”

Harpur College - 1970 Dickinson College Council meeting [Josh Karan in glasses, Master Carrol Coates sitting in back] discussing end-of-semester planning – photo by Steven B. Zwickel

College life, however, did not return to normal. The violence at Kent State seemed to be a tipping point, after which we could not go back to our normal routines. Students and faculty at Harpur College were in a state of shock. After days of talking, it was agreed to end the spring semester early. Students were given the option of taking whatever grade they had already earned or a grade of PASS. 

And so that awful year on campus came to an end.

I remember when we left campus, how mixed up my emotions were—sad, scared, and angry. Mostly, I think, it was the helplessness; the inability of so many hundreds of thousands of people to have any influence on the political system. 

Abandoned

 Abandoned

September, 2024

Steven B. Zwickel

I never dreamt it would happen to me, but I feel like I have been deserted, abandoned, left out of the loop. I am not just talking about the people I used to work with, who all promised we would “get together” sometime soon. (only two ever did and usually if  I contact them first—so what I learned about being retired is that it’s a lot like being dead). I’m talking about family.

When I was growing up, having direct and fairly frequent contact with parents and grandparents was the norm. After I left for college, I called home at least once a week, mostly so my parents wouldn’t worry about me, but also because I was still very much a part of the family. I called my 75-year old grandmother every week until just before she died. These were long-distance calls, so they weren’t cheap, but they were important.
We did things as a family, what we called “the togetherness bit” and enjoyed each other's company. I admit that, as I moved further into adulthood, there was too much togetherness, which sometimes felt stifling. So, I learned to create the boundaries I needed to become an independent adult, while keeping close—a comfortable distance—to my family.

When social media came along, I was eager to find out what all the excitement was about, so I joined FaceBook, MySpace, and Twitter. The glow of newness wore off very quickly. Too many ads, too many nasty comments, too much plain crap. I decided I was not interested in these new social media platforms and I abandoned my accounts. 

I don't know if I still have a FaceBook page, since I haven’t used it in nearly 20 years. Some people I knew in the past tried to “friend” me, but I ignored them. I wasn’t interested. 

I have a telephone number and an email address (and a street address where mail is delivered to my door). I have accounts with Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, and Microsoft Teams, so I can do video calls. I figured, wrongly, that anyone who wanted to get in touch with me could do so.

Now I feel cut off from many people I used to feel close to. 

When I first began to feel left out, I tried to be tactful. I’d call or email. I would encourage them to “please stay in touch.” They chose not to.

I became more assertive and asked why I hadn’t heard from them; they said it’s my fault for not keeping up with the latest fads in social media. 

They don’t talk, they text, and, since I don’t use a smartphone, I do not text. Of course, without a smartphone I don’t use Instagram or Snapchat. ➽ I used YouTube 15  years ago to live-stream a course I was teaching. At the time, it was considered a great innovation in distance learning!

 I tried a few more times to let them know that talking to them or exchanging emails was important to me. Silence. 

With one exception, I have been ghosted by my family. Out of sight, out of mind. I am hurt, angry, and depressed. They don’t seem to know or care. 

I am not the only one who has had this happen. Other people have told me that they are also left out of family connections—some on purpose, others for unknown reasons. Here’s a piece written by someone who understands the problem:

Lost Connections: The Erosion of Family Bonds

In an era defined by digital connectivity, the irony of diminishing human connection is palpable. While we’ve never been more technologically connected, the quality and depth of our relationships, particularly with older generations, seem to be eroding. The simple act of picking up the phone or visiting in person, once a cornerstone of family life, has become increasingly rare.

Our grandparents, who grew up in a time when communication relied on letters and phone calls, cherished the time they spent with their families. They understood the importance of face-to-face interactions and the value of shared experiences. Today, however, many young people claim that they are too busy with work, school, or social commitments to prioritize these connections. (Busy? Really? Each day, the average Gen-Z spends 6hrs-5min on their phone; average Millenial spends 4hrs-36min on their phone; average Gen-X spends 4hrs-9min on their phone; average Baby Boomer spends 3hrs-31min on their phone <https://www.harmonyhit.com/phone-screen-time-statistics/>).

The rise of social media contributed to this trend. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram can facilitate communication, but also create a false sense of connection. A quick like or comment may feel satisfying, but it can’t replace the warmth and intimacy of a genuine conversation. A short Zoom call is always better than an emoji.

Moreover, the generational divide in technological literacy can be a barrier to meaningful communication. Older adults may struggle to adapt to new technologies, while younger people may assume that their parents and grandparents are not interested in learning. This is ageism and it can lead to misunderstandings and a sense of disconnection. (“Ageism is defined as discrimination against older people because of negative and inaccurate stereotypes—and it’s so ingrained in our culture that we often don’t even notice.” <https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/03/cover-new-concept-of-aging>. 

This apparent decline in family connections is not solely a generational issue. All of us, regardless of age, have a responsibility to nurture our relationships with loved ones. By making a conscious effort to stay in touch, we can strengthen family bonds, preserve our cultural heritage, and enrich our own lives.

We need to recommit ourselves to the simple act of human connection. Whether it's a phone call, a visit, or a shared meal, every effort counts. By reaching out to our parents and grandparents, we not only honor their wisdom and experience but also ensure that the precious threads of family history are woven into the tapestry of our own lives.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

The “Dark Matter” of Medical Science

 The “Dark Matter” of Medical Science

What does modern medicine not know?

July, 2024

Steven B. Zwickel

This began with a conversation I had with my doctor. I asked her about a particular medical condition and whether there was a cure for it.

She shook her head. “No, unfortunately that is one illness that we have no cure for. In fact, we don’t even know what causes it.”

She paused, then added, “There are many things like that—illnesses that we know very little about.”

“It’s the “dark matter” of medical science, isn’t it?,” I asked. “We know that it exists, but we really know very little about it.”

 I took that as a challenge. I decided to find out what is in the “dark matter” of medicine.

Dark matter “makes up over 80% of all matter in the universe, but scientists have never seen it.  We only assume it exists because, without it, the behavior of stars, planets and galaxies simply wouldn't make sense.”  See <https://www.space.com/20930-dark-matter.html> Likewise, while it seems obvious that an illness must have a cause, as you can see from the table, in some cases we don’t know what those causes are.

Some illnesses can be cured, others can not

I put together a table listing various illnesses, in alphabetical order by their most common names. The list is by no means complete. NOTE: Hypochondriacs and readers who are worried about or easily frightened about their health should skip reading this.

I am not a physician and nothing in this document should be taken as medical advice. I can’t vouch for the reliability of the sources I used. Readers with questions should go to <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions>

“Cause Known?” indicates whether medical science actually knows what causes the illness (etiology) or suspects what the cause, or causes, may probably be. Where the answer is “No” you’ll find an area of dark matter. Modern medicine excels at treating the consequences of many diseases, but the root causes of complex conditions remain elusive. 

I use the word “probably” to indicate the areas that medical researchers are pursuing in search of a cause.

Here are some other terms used in explaining the cause of an illness:

Arboviral disease is a general term used to describe infections caused by viruses spread to people by the bite of infected insects, such as mosquitoes and ticks. These infections usually occur during warm weather months, when mosquitoes and ticks are active. 

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite people can get through sexual contact. A sexually transmitted disease (STD) develops because of an STI and the term implies that the infection led to some symptom of disease. 

Waterborne diseases Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio, Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium), Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora spp.), Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection, Giardiasis (Giardia), Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), Hot Tub Rash (Pseudomonas Dermatitis/Folliculitis), Legionellosis (Legionella). Sources of these diseases include water contaminated with bacteria or viruses; poor personal hygiene, untreated or contaminated drinking water, contaminated air handling systems, seawater, agricultural runoff, and food unwashed or handled by a contaminated or infected individual.

Foodborne diseases are the illnesses people get from eating contaminated food or beverages, including foodborne intoxications and infections, which are often incorrectly referred to as food poisoning. Foodborne diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, toxins, metals, and prions. Washing food and cooking it thoroughly can eliminate some of these sources. So can good hygiene—washing hands after going to the bathroom—by anyone who handles food.

“Curable?” explains whether or not there is a definite cure for the illness. In some cases the symptoms of an illness may be treatable, but that is not considered a cure. Where the answer is “No” you’ll find an area of dark matter.

“Potentially Fatal?” shows whether a person with that illness will probably die from it. In many cases an illness is considered fatal unless it is detected and treated quickly. In other cases the illness itself is not lethal, but complications resulting from that illness can kill a person. 

The good news is that our understanding of the different illnesses is growing very quickly and enormous amounts of money and research efforts my soon change some, if not many of, the answers in the table to “Yes.”

Illness	Cause Known?	Curable?	Potentially Fatal?
African sleeping sickness = Trypanosomiasis	Yes. parasite Trypanosoma brucei transmitted to humans through the bite of infected tsetse flies	Yes. Treatable depending if caught early	Yes, if not treated early enough
Alzheimer's disease	Not fully; appears to be combination of genetic/family history, age, lifestyle, and environmental factors,or??	No. Some symptoms are manageable. New drugs are coming along quickly.	No, but complications can be fatal
American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease)	Yes. parasite Trypanosoma Cruzi. transmitted by bite, followed by contact with feces/urine of infected blood-sucking triatomine bugs	Yes. Treatable depending if caught early	Yes, if not treated early enough
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis = ALS [Lou Gehrig's disease]	No. Possibly genetic, environmental, Neuroinflamation, Glutamate Excitotoxicity, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, or??	No. Supportive care and treatments can help manage symptoms, prolong survival, and improve quality of life	Yes
Anthrax	Yes. bacterium Bacillus anthracis	Yes, with antibiotics and anthrax antitoxin	Yes, lethal if not promptly treated
Arthritis - Osteoarthritis (OA)	Yes. Aging, joint overuse or injury, obesity, joint misalignment or inflammation, congenital abnormality, metabolic conditions, gender	No. Some symptoms are manageable.	No.
Arthritis - Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)	No. Possibly genetic, environmental trigger, autoimmune response, gender, age, family history, obesity	No. Some symptoms are manageable.	No, but complications may affect life expectancy
Botulism	Yes, Foodborne: toxins produced by bacteria Clostridium botulinum	Yes, with Antitoxin	Yes, if not treated promptly
Brucellosis (undulant fever, Malta fever, Mediterranean fever)	Yes, Foodborne: toxins produced by bacteria Brucella	Yes, with a combination of antibiotics	Not usually, but complications may include arthritis, inflammation of the heart (endocarditis), inflammation of the lining of the brain (meningitis)
Campylobacter enteritis = campylobacteriosis	Yes, Foodborne: bacterium Campylobacter	Yes. Manage dehydration, some use of antibiotics.	Rarely
Cancer - Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC)	No	When possible, with surgical removal of tumor	Depends on success of surgery
Cancer - Breast	No. Risk factors include genetic [mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes], hormones, alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, age, family history, exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), and other occupational exposures.	No. However, for early-stage breast cancer, treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy can be effective in curing the disease.	Yes, unless it is diagnosed and treated early enough
Cancer - Carcinoma: basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs)	No, but possibly: genetic, environmental, chronic inflammation, hormonal, immune system dysfunction, age, infection -human papillomavirus (HPV)	Depends on the type of carcinoma, its stage, and individual circumstances. Radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy may work	Yes, but early detection and treatment can significantly increase the chances of survival
Cancer - Central Nervous System (CNS)	No. Possibly genetic, radiation, chemical exposure, immune system dysfunction, age, viral infection	Yes, with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy	Yes, if malignant and grow rapidly or spread to other parts of the CNS or body. Location of tumor within the brain or spinal cord can also affect prognosis and potential complications.
Cancer - Leukemia	No. Possibly genetic, environmental, immune system suppression, viral infection, age	No, but treatment possible, depending on leukemia subtype, patient age and health	Yes, if not diagnosed early or if it does not respond well to treatment
Cancer - Lymphoma Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin	No. Possibly genetic mutations, weakened immune system, viral infection, age, gender, family history, some autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren's syndrome	Yes = Hodgkin;  Non-Hodgkin very hard to cure. Treated with radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and bone marrow transplant	Yes, potentially
Cancer - Melanoma	No. Possibly exposure to UV radiation, genetic factors, skin type and sensitivity, age, immune system supression	Yes, with early detection.	Yes, potentially, if not detected and treated early on
Cancer - Most types	Sometimes. Possibly: genetic syndromes or mutations, environmental/lifestyle factors, age, gender, exposure to radiation.	Depends on the type	Depends on type and if diagnosed and treated early enough
Cancer - Ovarian cancer - epithelial ovarian cancer - germ cell tumors - stromal tumors	No. Possiby genetic mutation, age, family history, reproductive factors, hormonal factors, obesity	Early-stage ovarian cancer (Stage I and II) is more likely to be curable with appropriate treatment, whereas advanced-stage ovarian cancer (Stage III and IV) is more difficult to treat and has a poorer prognosis.	Yes, if not detected and treated early on
Cancer - Pancreatic cancer - Adenocarcinoma - pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs),	No. Possibly genetic, family history, smoking, age, chronic pancreatitis, obesity	Yes, with early detection. Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.	Yes, if not detected and treated early on
Cancer - Renal Cell Carcinoma - Kidney Cancer -transitional cell carcinoma - Wilms tumor - renal sarcoma	No. Possibly genetic factors, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, exposure to certain chemicals: asbestos, cadmium, organic solvents	Yes, for localized renal cancer completely removed surgically and does not recur	Yes, but early-stage kidney cancers detected before they spread (metastasize) outside the kidney typically have a good prognosis, especially after surgical removal.
Cancer - Sarcoma - bone and soft-tissue	No. Possibly genetic factors, radiation or chemical exposure, inherited DNA mutations	No, but combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy my help	Yes, unless detected and treated early on
Cancer - Thyroid cancer (papillary thyroid carcinoma, follicular thyroid carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma)	No. Possibly genetic factors, radiation exposure, gender and age, thyroid conditions, or exposure to chemicals or pollutants	Yes.  Most are treatable.	Yes, if not detected and treated early on
Celiac Disease	No, but possibly combination of genetic and environmental factors	No. Treatable with strict gluten-free diet	Not directly, but slightly higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases like flu or pneumonia
Cerebral Palsy	No, but possibly prenatal, perinatal, or postnatal factors, genetic mutations	No.	No.
Chikungunya	Yes, Virus transmitted by mosquitoes	No.	No
Chlamydia	Yes, bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (see Trachoma); Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)	Yes, with antibiotics	Not directly, but untreated chlamydia can lead to perihepatitis (inflammation around the liver) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord).
Cholera	Yes, bacterium Vibrio cholerae	Yes, with prompt intervention and Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) therapy, sometimes antibiotics	Yes, fatal if not treated promptly; can start an epidemic
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)	Yes, by smoking, secondhand smoke, air pollution, workplace dust and fumes	Not once lungs damaged.	Yes, complications are life-threatening.
Cirrhosis	Yes. Heavy alcohol use, viral hepatitis, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Genetic disorders, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Bile Duct diseases, some medications and toxins	No.	Yes, but it is not always the direct cause of death.
Clostridioides difficile   (C. diff)	Yes, bacterium Clostridioides difficile infection following antibiotic use, old age, long hospitalization, or other medical conditions	No. Treatments include stopping antibiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly.
Coronavirus /Covid-19	Yes, Virus SARS-CoV-2	No, but oral anti-viral pills, intravenous antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, anti-inflammatory drugs can help.	Yes
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease - Sporadic,Familial, and Acquired	No - Sporadic Yes - Familial (inherited) Yes. Acquired = Foodborne	No.	Yes.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever	Yes, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) from tick bites or contact with infected animal blood or tissues	No.	Yes.
Crohn’s Disease	No. Possibly autoimmune reaction, genetic factors, environmental factors, high-fat diet	No. Treatments focus on controlling symptoms	Not directly, but it can lead to severe inflammation, bowel obstruction, fistulas, malnutrition, colon cancer which may be fatal.
Cystic fibrosis (CF)	Yes. Genetic	No.	Yes, it can lead to serious health complications and has the potential to be life-threatening.
Dengue fever (dengue hemorrhagic fever)	Yes, virus Dengue through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes -Arboviral	No.	No. But can be fatal if not promptly diagnosed and treated.
Diabetes - Type 1	No. Possibly genetics or triggered by an autoimmune response.	No. Treated by managing blood sugar levels, insulin injections, diet, and exercise	Yes, if untreated
Diabetes - Type 2	No. Possibly insulin resistance, obesity + sedentary lifestyle, genetic, age, ethnicity, gestation (women)	No. Treated by medication, diet, and exercise	Yes, if untreated
Diphtheria	Yes. bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae	Yes, with antitoxin and antibiotics	Yes, lethal if not promptly treated
Dupuytren's contracture	No, but possibly combination of genetic (Northern European ancestry) and environmental factors	No.	No.
E. Coli Escherichia coli O157-H7 Infection:  1. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC);  2.  Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC);  3. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC);  4. Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC); 5. Diffusely adherent Escherichia coli (DAEC); 6. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)	Yes, bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) Waterborne/Foodborne; Transmitted by raw foods, unpasteruized dairy products, human feces to mouth on unwashed hands.	Yes, depending on severity and type of infection	No, but see Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which can result in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is life-threatening.
Eastern equine encephalitis	Yes. Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) transmitted by mosquitoes	No.	Yes.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)	Yes. Viruses Filoviridae =Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, Bundibugyo ebolavirus, and Taï Forest ebolavirus; transmitted from infected animals	No. Treated with IV fluids/electrolytes, oxygen, blood transfusions, and medications to manage symptoms	Yes
Eclampsia	No, but possibly vascular dysfunction, placental factors, hormonal imbalance, immune system response, genetic factors	No. Treated with anticonvulsant therapy, blood pressure control, fetal lung maturation.	Yes if not promptly and effectively managed
Emphysema	Yes.Long-term exposure to irritants that damage the lungs (smoking, air pollution, dust, fumes, chemicals), genetic, age, respiratory infections	No.	No, but complications can be fatal.
Encephalitis lethargica (EL)	No, but possibly viral infection, autoimmune reaction genetic and environmental factors	No.	Sometimes
Endometriosis	No, but possibly retrograde menstruation, immune system dysfunction, or genetics	No, treatments focus on managing symptoms	No.
Epilepsy	No, but possibly genetics, brain injury, brain developmental disorder, infection, stroke/vascular disease, metabolic disorder, autoimmune disorder, developmental abnormalities	No, but there are ways to control seizures.	Yes, from complications
Fibromyalgia	No, possibly Central Nervous System (CNS) abnormalities, genetic, stress	No. Symptoms treated with a combination of medication, exercise, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and lifestyle modifications	No.
Glanders	Yes, bacteria Burkholderia mallei after direct contact with infected animals or contaminated materials	No. Antibiotics may help	Yes, lethal if not promptly treated
Gonorrhea	Yes, bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae - sexually transmitted infection (STI)	Yes, with antibiotics	Rarely, but complications may include Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Disseminated Gonococcal Infection (DGI), Increased HIV Transmission
Gout (hyperuricemia)	Yes, diet, alcohol, medical conditions like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, diuretics and aspirin, genetics	No, but managed with medication and lifesyle changes	No, but complications can be fatal.
Guillain-Barré syndrome	No, but possibly triggered by infection, autoimmune response, vaccination	No. Treated with immunomodulatory therapies, pain management, PT, respiratory support	No.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS)	Yes, Virus transmitted by rodents	No.	Yes.
Hashimoto’s Disease (Hashimoto's thyroiditis)	No, but possibly combination of genetic and environmental factors	No. Treated with synthetic thyroid hormone, monitoring, lifestyle changes to diet, exercise, stress, sleep	No.
Hepatitis A & E	Yes. Virus - foodborne/waterborne. Also caaused by autoimmune response, alcohol and drugs, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Metabolic disorders	No. Most patients recover with supportive care.	No.
Hepatitis B & C & D	Yes. Virus transmitted by bodily fluids. Also caaused by autoimmune response, alcohol and drugs, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Metabolic disorders	No. Treated with antiviral medicines.	Yes. Increased risk of death from complications.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)	Yes, virus Lentivirus retroviruses HIV-1 and HIV-2; person to person Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)	No, Treated with antiretorviral therapy.	Yes, if left untreated HIV can progress to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection	Yes. Virus - one or more of 100 varieties of papillomavirus  person to person Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) or through other skin-to-skin contact	No.	No. But some types of genital HPV can cause cancer of the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina (cervix), cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva and back of the throat (oropharyngeal).
Huntington's disease	Yes. Genetic.	No.	Yes. From complications.
Influenza - Bird flu - avian influenza (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza = HPAI)	Yes. Influenza A virus that belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae  transmitted from poultry	No. Supportive care and symptom relief may help, antiviral medications	Yes, especially in cases where there are complications such as severe pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Influenza - H1N1 (Swine Flu)	Yes. Influenza A virus that belongs to the family Orthomyxoviridae	No. Treated with anti-viral therapy and symptom management	No.
Influenza - Seasonal	Yes. Influenza B Virus (IBV) that belongs to the family Orthomyxoviridae	No. Most patients recover.	No. But dangerous for infants, elderly, weakened immune system, obesity, chronic illnesses, stroke victims
Influenza C Virus (ICV)	Yes. Influenza C Virus (ICV) Gammainfluenzavirus	No.	No.
Invasive Aspergillosis	Yes. fungal infection caused primarily by Aspergillus species, most commonly Aspergillus fumigatus	No.	Yes, especially for people who are immunocompromised.
Invasive listeriosis	Yes. Foodborne - bacterium Listeria monocytogenes	No. Treated with antibiotics.	Yes, especially for people who are immunocompromised.
Larval tapeworm infection (Cysticercosis)	Yes. Foodborne/waterborne by larval stage of tapeworm; undercooked pork	Yes. Anti-parasitic drugs	Yes, depending on number and size of cysts.
Lassa  Fever	Yes. Virus Arenaviridae spread by urine, droppings, or saliva of infected West African rats	Yes. Anti-viral drugs.	No.
Legionnaires' disease	Yes. Waterborne by bacterium Legionella pneumophila	Yes. Antibiotics.	Yes, if not promptly and effectively managed
Leprosy [Hansen's Disease]	Yes. Bacterium Mycobacterium leprae Possibly spread person to person through respiratory droplets	Yes. Antibiotics.	No.
Leptospirosis (Weil disease; Icterohemorrhagic fever; Swineherd's disease; Rice-field fever; Cane-cutter fever; Swamp fever; Mud fever; Hemorrhagic jaundice; Stuttgart disease; Canicola fever)	Yes, bacteria leptospira Waterborne from drinking contaminated water	Yes, antibiotics usually work	Yes, if not detected and treated early on. Complications include Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction to penicillin, Meningitis, Severe bleeding
Louse-Borne Relapsing Fever (LBRF)	Yes. bacteria Borrelia recurrentis. Transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected human body louse	Yes. Antibiotics.	Yes, if not promptly and effectively treated
Lupus erythematosus	No. Possbily combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors	No. Treatments may help suppress immune system and relieve symptoms.	No. But if not diagnosed early and treated, complications may be fatal.
Lyme disease	Yes. bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi from the bites of infected ticks	No. Treated with antibiotics and to relieve symptoms.	No. But if untreated, it can lead to arthritis, nerve pain, cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), or Lyme neuroborreliosis (inflammation of the brain and spine).
Malaria	Yes. parasites Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax from bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes	Yes. Anti-malarial medications	Yes, if not detected early and promptly treated
Measles = Rubeola	Yes. Measles virus, spread person to person through respiratory droplets	No.Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.	No, but may cause fatal pneumonia and can kill malnourished and immunocompromised people.
Meningitis - Bacterial [Meningococcal meningitis]	Yes. bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) spread person to person through respiratory droplets	Yes, with antibiotics, corticosteroids, and symptom management.	Yes.
Meningitis - Fungal	Yes. fungal infections, such as Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, or Coccidioides	Yes, with antifungal medications.	Yes.
Meningitis - Parasitic	Yes. Foodborne/Waterborne. Parasites such as Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba, and Angiostrongylus cantonensis.	No.	No.
Meningitis - Viral	Yes. viruses such as enteroviruses, herpes simplex virus, and varicella-zoster virus	No. Treated with antiviral medicines if the virus is identified.	No.
Mental Disorders: Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias; Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders; Eating disorders; Personality disorders; Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia	Yes, including genetics, family history, life experiences, biological & chemical factors, traumatic brain injury, prenatal exposure to viruses/toxic chemicals/drugs/alcohol, use of alcohol or drugs, serious health problems, social isolation.	No, but many kinds of treatments for symptoms, including psychotherapy paired with medication	No, but some can increase the risk of health complications or behaviors that can be life-threatening.
MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)	Yes. Virus coronavirus (MERS-CoV) from dromedary camels to humans, possibly from bats.	No. Treatments focus on symptoms.	Yes.
Monkey B virus [Herpes B virus]	Yes. Virus after being bitten/scratched by a monkey, or from contaminated syringe	No.	Yes. Infection can cause encephalitis, which can lead to permanent neurological damage or death
Mononucleosis (mono or glandular fever)	Yes. Virus = Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Adenovirus, and Toxoplasmosis. spread person to person through respiratory droplets and saliva	No.	No.
Mpox (Monkeypox) - Clade I and Clade II	Yes. Virus Monkeypox virus transmitted from infected animal or person.	No. Treated with antiviral medicines and relief from symptoms.	Yes, Clade I can kill; Clade II is rarely fatal.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)	No, but possibly genetics, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Vitamin D deficiency, smoking, childhood obesity	No.	No. But can reduce life expectancy.
Mumps (Epidemic Parotitis)	Yes, mumps virus, of the paramyxovirus family. Spreads through respiratory droplets or saliva from an infected person, enters the body through the nose, mouth, or throat, and infects parotid glands — salivary glands near the ears.	No.	No, but in very rare cases, severe complications such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord) can lead to serious outcomes.
Muscular dystrophy (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Becker Muscular Dystrophy, Myotonic Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy, Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy)	Yes, genetic mutations	No. Treatments focus on relief from symptoms and slowing progress of disease.	Yes, when heart or respiratory mucsles are  affected.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)	No, but possibly insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, High blood lipids (dyslipidemia), genetics, sedentary lifestyle.	Yes, if diagnosed and treated early.	Yes, from liver failure.
Noninvasive listeriosis (febrile listerial gastroenteritis)	Yes. Foodborne - bacterium Listeria monocytogenes	No.	No.
Norovirus	Yes, virus Norovirus Caliciviridae. From contaminated person to person, Foodborne/Waterborne, aerosolized particles	No.	No, but can kill sick and elderly people.
Onychomycosis	Yes, fungus dermatophytes  Trichophyton rubrum,Trichophyton mentagrophytes,  and  Epidermophyton floccosum  transmitted from hotel carpets, public showers,  pool decks and other dark, warm, moist surfaces	Yes, treated with systemic antifungals	No.
Parkinson's disease	No, but possibly genetics,  exposure to toxins(pesticides, herbicides),head injuries, age	No, treatments focus on managing symptoms	No, but complications like falls, pneumonia, and difficulty swallowing can increase the risk of death
Phthisis (phthisis bulbi)	Yes, from from various ocular insults like trauma, surgery, infection, inflammation, malignancy, retinal detachment, and vascular lesions	No.	No.
Plague - Bubonic (Septicemic, Pneumonic)	Yes, bacterium Yersinia pestis through the bite of infected fleas that have fed on rodents such as rats	Yes, with a combination of antibiotics	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly may lead to Septicemic Plague = Yersinia pestis bacteria multiply in the bloodstream, causing severe sepsis (blood infection) and potentially leading to multiple organ failure; or Pneumonic plague, when Yersinia pestis infects the lungs
Pneumonia - Bacterial	Yes, bacteria, primarily Streptococcus pneumoniae, also Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae	No, treated with antibiotics.	Yes, for children, elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, if not promptly and effectively treated
Pneumonia - Fungal	Yes, fungi, including Aspergillus, Mucor, Candida, Pneumocystis jirovecii from inhaling fungal spores	Yes, with antifungal medication, depending on type of infection	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly.
Pneumonia - Viral	Yes, virus SARS-CoV-2 and, children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) spread person to person through respiratory droplets and saliva	No. Treatments focus on relief from symptoms	No, except for children, elderly, and people with weakened immune systems
Polio [Poliomyelitis, infantile paralysis, Heine–Medin disease]	Yes, virus poliovirus Waterborne; also spread person to person through contact with the feces of an infected person	No.	Yes, but rarely.
Psoriasis (Plaque, Guttate, Pustular, Inverse, Erythrodermic)	No, but possibly faulty immune cell activation, genetic, environmental (infection, stress, injury), family history, smoking, alcohol, medications, climate, obesity outside.	No. Treatments focus on controlling symptoms	No.
Quinsy (peritonsillar abscess) / tonsillitis	Yes, bacteria A beta-hemolytic streptococcus	Yes, with antibiotics, drainage, tonsillectomy, and treatment of symptoms	Yes, the abscess can rupture and the contents of the abscess can travel into the lungs and cause pneumonia
Rabbit fever =  Tularemia	Yes, bacterium Francisella tularensis transmitted by bites of infected ticks (dog ticks, wood ticks, and lone star ticks) or deer flies; Foodborne = undercooked wild game, inhaling aerosolized organisms, Waterborne = drinking contaminated water.	Yes, with antibiotics.	Yes, if untreated.
Rabies (Hydrophobia)	Yes, virus lyssaviruses, Rhabdoviridae, Mononegavirales and Australian bat lyssavirus. Transmitted by animal bite or scratch.	No, once symptoms appear, but getting a series of vaccinations post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent disease.	Yes, once rabies patient develops neurological symptoms.
Raccoon roundworm [Baylisascaris infection]	Yes, parasite raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis. Transmitted by inhaling eggs of the parasite, which are shed in raccoon feces.	No. Treatment of symptoms and supportive care.	No, but may cause serious neurological complications.
Reye's syndrome	No, but possibly exposure to salicylate (aspirin), viral infection, metabolic disorder.	No.	Yes, if left untreated.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)	Yes, Tickborne from bite of American dog tick: (Dermacentor variabilis) Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni)	Yes, if diagnosed and treated early with antibiotics.	Yes.
Roseola (roseola infantum or sixth disease)	Yes, by human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) or 7 (HHV-7), spread person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, and by saliva	No.Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.	No, but complications can be serious.
Rotavirus	Yes, virus rotavirus, spread from human feces to mouth on unwashed hands.	No.Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing dehydration.	No, only if dehydration is untreated.
Rubella (German measles)	Yes, virus RuV, a rubivirus of the family Matonaviridae, spread person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, or by touching a surface with the virus on it.	No. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.	No, but serious when a pregnant woman passes rubella to the fetus = Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). This can cause skin, hearing, vision, heart and brain problems in newborns.
Salmonella infection (salmonellosis)	Yes. Foodborne/Waterborne bacteria salmonella. Transmitted by raw foods, unpasteruized dairy products, human feces to mouth on unwashed hands.	Yes. Treatments focus on symptoms; antibiotics given if bacteria enter bloodstream.	No, but complications can be dangerous for infants, childen, elderly, transplant recipients, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems.
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)	Yes. Virus SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Spread person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, or by touching a surface with the virus on it.	No. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.	Yes. Increased risk of death from respiratory symptoms.
Scarlet fever	Yes. bacteria from group A Streptococcus pyogenes. Spread person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, or by touching a surface with the bacteria on it.	No, but treatable with antibiotics.	Yes, if left untreated.
Septicemia (blood poisoning)	Yes. Bacterial infections from wounds, injuries, surgery, infections in other parts of the body. May also be caused by fungi and viruses.	No, but treatable with antibiotics.	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly.
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection	Yes. Bacteria Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) E. coli O157:H7. Foodborne/Waterborne; Spread person to person through poor hygiene.	No. Treated by supportive care to manage symptoms and prevent/treat complications.	No. But complications, like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), can be fatal.
Shingles (herpes zoster)	Yes, reactivation of the virus varicella-zoster (VZV) virus that causes chickenpox; possibly triggered by aging, weakened immune system, stress.	No. Treated to reduce symptoms.	No, but severe complications possible.
Sjogren’s Syndrome	No, but possibly combination of genetic and environmental factors (viral or bacterial infections)	No. Treatement focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing complications	No.
Smallpox = variola	Yes, virus ariola poxvirus [Variola Major & Variola Minor] Spread person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, or by touching a rash surface with the virus on it.	No.	Yes, and could lead to severe complications, including: secondary bacterial infections (pneumonia or septicemia), permanent scars on the skin, damage to internal organs.
Staphylococcus aureus / Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)	Yes, bacteria Staphylococcus aureus  infection when bacteria enter the body through cuts, abrasions, or other breaches in the skin.	Yes, with antibiotics the bacteria is not resistant to.	Yes, depending on type of infection and patient’s health; severe complications include sepsis, pneumonia, endocarditis.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)	No, but possibly immature development of baby’s brainstem, sleeping on stomach or side, soft bedding, overheating, maternal smoking during pregnancy, premature birth, low birth weight, family history	No.	Yes.
Syphilis	Yes, bacterium Treponema pallidum; sexually transmitted infection (STI) spread through direct contact with a syphilitic sore (chancre) during sex	Yes, with antibiotics	Yes, if left untreated.
Tetanus (Lockjaw)	Yes, bacterium Clostridium tetani; infection occurs when the bacterium enters the body through a wound or a break in the skin—puncture wounds, burns, surgical wounds, even minor injuries like cuts or scratches.	No. Treated with antibiotics and immunoglobulin and focus on relief from symptoms.	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly.
Thrush	Yes, fungus Candida; when illnesses, stress or medications disturb the amount of Candida, the fungus grows out of control and causes thrush	Yes,  treatment is antifungal medications	No.
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)	Yes, bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (staph) and Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep). Can also be caused by toxins produced by bacterium Clostridium sordellii.	Yes, in-patient care including IV fluids, antibiotics, medication to control blood pressure, with close monitoring of vital signs.	Yes, depending on type of bacteria, speed of diagnosis, and health of patient. Clostridium sordellii infections are usually fatal.
Trachoma	Yes, bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis; transmitted through direct or indirect contact with eye and nose discharges of infected people	No, but treatable with antibiotics.	No, but may cause blindness
Trichomoniasis	Yes, sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the single-celled parasite Trichomonas vaginalis.	Yes.	No.
Tuberculosis (TB)	Yes, bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis; transmitted through coughing, sneezing, or saliva discharge of infected people	Yes, treated with a combination of antibiotics	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly.
Typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever	Yes, bacteria—Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella serotype Typhi. Paratyphoid fever is caused by Salmonella serotype Paratyphi. Waterborne: contaminated drinking water; Foodborne: poor food handling hygiene	Yes, treated with antibiotics	Yes, if not detected and treated early on.
Typhus - Arbovirus	Yes, bacteria: Rickettsia prowazekii {epidemic typhus} and Rickettsia typhi {murine typhus}. Spread to humans through the bites of fleas, lice, or ticks	No.	Yes, if not detected and treated early on and can become an epidemic.
Vibrio illness [Vibriosis]	Yes, bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio alginolyticus; Foodborne in raw/undercooked shellfish or from open wound.	No, treated with antibiotics depending on severity of symptoms. Note: Vibrio cholerae (causes cholera) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (causes gastroenteritis)	Yes, Vibrio vulnificus can be fatal. Note: Vibrio cholerae causes cholera.
West Nile Virus (WNV) - Arbovirus	Yes, RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of a Culex mosquito.	No, treated with supportive care, rest, fluids, pain management	Yes, if West Nile virus enters the brain, however, it can be life-threatening.
Whooping cough / Pertussis	Yes, bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.	No, but antibiotics can reduce severity	Yes, but extremely rare.
Yellow Fever (Flavivirus) - Arbovirus	Yes, virus Flavivirus or Yellow fever virus (YFV); transmitted to humans by the bite of Aedes aegypti or Haemagogus mosquito.	No, treated with supportive care.	Yes, but most cases are mild.
Zika - Arbovirus	Yes, virus Zika; transmitted to humans by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito.	No, treated with supportive care.	No, but complications can be dangerous for pregnant women and their infants, may possibly cause Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)

Cardiovascular disease

I did not include Cardiovascular disease in the table. This category includes:

• Aneurysm
• Angina or angina pectoris
• Atherosclerosis = hardening of the arteries
• Atrioventricular block
• Arrhythmia 
• Bacterial endocarditis
• Blood clot (A blood clot that forms inside one of your veins or arteries is called a thrombus. A thrombus may also form in your heart. A thrombus that breaks loose and travels from one location in the body to another is called an embolus)
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) - Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Coronary heart disease (CHD) 
• Heart and blood vessel disease 
• Heart failure, congestive heart failure 
• Heart Valve Disease - stenosis, regurgitation, prolapse
• Hemorrhagic stroke 
• Ischemic stroke 
• Myocardial Infarction = heart attack  

Our knowledge of Cardiovascular disease and coronary care is changing rapidly and the focus now is on prevention and finding new treatments. In some cases, the cause of these illnesses is fairly clear—smoking, diet, and a sedentary lifestyle, although genetics and family history also play a part. 

<https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/a-z/>

More Dark Matter 

Here are some other examples of the “dark matter” limitations of modern medicine:

Connections between Psychiatry and Medicine: The relationship between the mind and body is not fully understood. This complicates the treatment of conditions with both physiological and psychological components, such as chronic pain syndromes and psychosomatic disorders.

Understanding the Human Microbiome: The human microbiota consists of 10–100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells harbored by each person, primarily bacteria in the gut; the human microbiome consists of the genes these cells harbor. Microbiome projects work to understand the roles these symbionts play in human health. The human microbiome in our bodies is linked to health and disease. Reasearchers are looking at the specific mechanisms by which these microbiomes influence well-being and studying how they might be manipulated for therapeutic benefit. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3426293/>

Personalized, Precision Medicine: Personalized medicine uses an individual's genetic profile to guide decisions made regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Personalized medicine is being advanced through data from the Human Genome Project. <https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Personalized-Medicine>

Aging (Gerontology) and Intervention Strategies: The aging process is a complex interplay of biological pathways. Despite significant advancements, a comprehensive understanding of cellular senescence and effective strategies to slow or reverse its effects remain elusive. Gerontology encompasses all avenues of the aging process from the cellular level to the social level. {Gerontology is the scientific study of aging, while the study of disease and illness in the elderly is geriatrics.} According to WebMD, “There are several subfields of gerontology that focus on all aspects of aging:

Biological Gerontology: The study of aging at both the molecular and cellular levels. Researchers are trying to understand changes in cells and tissues as the people age and to identify mechanisms that affect age-related illness. They try to develop ways to prevent, delay, or reverse the underlying aging processes.

Social Gerontology: This is the study of aging in a social context, focusing on the relationship between the elderly and their caregivers, families, and extended society. Researchers try to understand how aging affects social relationships and roles to develop policies and programs to improve the life quality for older adults.   

Environmental Gerontology: This is the study of the interaction between people and their social and physical environments. Researchers try to identify environmental factors that aid in healthy aging and to find ways to improve the built environment [human-made conditions = architecture, landscaping, urban planning, public health] for the aging”. < https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/what-is-gerontology>

Lessons Learned from 135 Illnesses

• Cause known: Yes 97
• Curable: Yes 42
• Potentially Fatal: Yes 77

Follow the advice your parents gave you: wash your hands after you use the toilet, don’t smoke, use sunscreen and wear a hat, avoid mosquitos and ticks, go easy on the alcohol, get some exercise, cover your nose when you sneeze and your mouth when you cough, keep your vaccinations up to date, cook food thoroughly and watch what you eat, don’t drink raw milk, don’t pick food up off the floor and eat it (the “5-second rule” is nonsense), and, if you feel sick, don’t “wait and see” —go talk to a doctor!