Arthropods	-The organisims from the phylum Arthropoda. Arthro means jointed and Poda means legs. This phylum consists of organisms with jointed legs.
Bacteria (bacterium)	-A one-celled organism.
BSE    (Mad Cow Disease)	-BSE stands for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, which really means that it turns the brains of cows into a sponge-like substance. Also known as Mad Cow Disease, it produces holes in the brain, neurological disease, and death. BSE is found only in cows.
Cytoplasm	-Gel-sol in a cell containing enzymes, which break down food and build cell parts.
Disease	-A medical disorder.
Endemic	-A widespread, lower-grade infection or routine childhood disease confined to a particular region (measles, chickenpox, mumps).
Epidemic	-An acute illness that spreads rapidly among many people at the same time. The result of a germ entering a population-- (one that is unfamiliar with the germ and has few defenses).
Epidemiology	-The study of epidemics; the cases and patterns of contagion, and the methods of containing disease.
Filoviruses	-A family of RNA viruses which, when magnified several times, resemble long filaments or threads.
Incubation period	-The period of time between the the actual infection and the first signs of disease.
Inoculate	-An inoculation is a form of vaccine.  In ancient China, immunity to Smallpox was acheived by blowing dust from Smallpox scabs into the patient's nose.
Microorganism	-Organism of microscopic size.
Pandemic	-Involves much of the world. Surviors are left with defenses against reinfection and the pandemic eventually becomes an [endemic] (bubonic plague, AIDS).
Parasites	-Organisms which use a host organism to provide food.
Plague	-Any severe epidemic; when there is no known treatment or cure. It is from the Latin plaga, which means "blow". It was often believed a plague was a blow administered by a god.
Quarantine	-Isolation or restriction on travel intended to keep a contagious disease from spreading.
RNA-   (ribonucleic acid)	-Complex protein chemical in genes that determines the type of life form into which a cell will develop.
Vaccine	-A vaccine is a small amount of a disease causing agent that is injected into the blood of a person.  The body then fights it off easily and can protect against this disease in the future.  This is called immunity.
Virus	-Submicroscopic infective agent capable of growth and multiplication only in living cells.