In medicine, infectious disease or communicable disease is disease caused by a biological agent such as by a virus, bacterium or parasite. This is contrasted to physical causes, such as burns or chemical ones such as through intoxication.

Basics

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Infectious diseases are the invasion of a host organism by a foreign replicator, generally microorganisms, often called microbes, that are invisible to the naked eye. Microbes that cause illness are also known as pathogens. The most common pathogens are various bacteria and viruses, though a number of other microorganisms, including some kinds of fungi and protozoa, also cause disease. Prions are borderline, and memes would not usually be considered in this scope. An infectious disease is termed contagious if it is easily transmitted from one person to another.

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Veterinary Medicine

Check out the Vet Gazette
Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Stay up-to-date with the College of Veterinary Medicine with the Vet Gazette.
What Makes a Happy Cow?
Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Oregon State University dairy cows are sporting a fashionable new orange accessorythat is designed to gather a variety of information on the cows' movements, which will allow researchers to learn which conditions, including food, surroundings and density of cows put together, make them the happiest. <img class="thumb" src="http://oregonstate.edu/enewsletter/images/happycow.jpg" alt="Photo of Cow" title="OSU Makes Cows Happy" />
Check out the Vet Gazette
Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Stay up-to-date on news in the College of Veterinary Medicine!
Pet Day 2009 is Coming!
Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Oregon State's College of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to host its 22nd annual Pet Day and Open House on May 2. Check it out! <img class="thumb" src="http://oregonstate.edu/enewsletter/images/petday2009.jpg" alt="Pet Day logo" title="College of Veterinary Medicine hosts Pet Day" />
Oregon State Researchers Monitoring Potential Spread of Fungal Disease
Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700
A fungal organism called Cryptococcus gattii, which caused a disease outbreak among humans and animals on Vancouver Island 10 years ago, may be showing signs of emerging in other areas of the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, say pathologists at OSU.
OSU Researcher to Work with Marion County Youths on Vet Med Project
Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800
Elementary students at Marion and Turner schools in Marion County will have the opportunity to learn about the intestinal physiology of a llama, examine a freeze-dried horse leg, compare the differences between a veterinarian and a medical doctor, and help conduct an exam on a dog.

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