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The elimination of this virus worldwide is a long way off and it is important for healthcare professionals to understand the symptoms. Susan Campbell outlines what to look for and the changes in UK legislation concerning pet quarantine A zoonotic disease, rabies is an encephalitis caused by the rabies virus. It is estimated that there are about 55,000 cases of rabies each year worldwide, almost all in developing countries (Health Protection Agency 2012). Rabies has the highest death rate of any type of viral infection, yet is almost 100 per cent preventable (Briggs 2010, NHS Choices 2011). This article explains recent changes in UK quarantine laws and discusses whether we are any closer to the eradication of rabies.

Of all the insect-borne diseases, malaria is the most serious public health problem, even though deaths from malaria are generally preventable. Eradication was tried in the 1950s and 60s but was abandoned to a strategy of control. However, recent developments indicate that eradication could be reconsidered, given enough time and money. The three elements of control are case management of patients with malaria, prevention of infection through vector control and prevention of disease by administration of antimalarial drugs to particularly vulnerable population groups (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2006).

An influenza pandemic can have many negative effects on a society, and nurses are at the frontline of treatment. This article explains how to prepare for a pandemic and discusses the implications for healthcare staff when it occurs.

Potentially fatal diseases spread by insects in tropical and sub-tropical regions are a hazard for Western visitors. Susan Campbell describes symptoms and treatments – and how to reduce your chances of infection in the first place Insects are capable of spreading diseases which can be fatal, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Many of these insect-borne diseases are rare, but this makes them hard to recognise. There are no vaccinations for most of them and drug treatment can be difficult, dangerous or nonexistent. Prevention of insect bites is the single most sensible and effective precaution a traveller can take to avoid these diseases (Dawood 1999).