El Niño-Southern Oscillation Cycle (ENSO) - A combination of two events, El Niño and La Niña, which are periodic disruptions in the ocean’s temperatures. As a result, the temperatures are warmer or cooler than usual, which has an impact on weather patterns worldwide. ⏎
DNA - Short for deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA is any of the nucleic acids that contain the genetic instructions necessary for the development and functioning of all living organisms as well as some viruses.⏎
Cytokine - A type of protein secreted by cells in the immune system that carries signals that facilitate cell-to-cell communication and help regulate the way the immune system responds to inflammation and infection.⏎
Contagion - A general term for any disease-causing infectious agent spread by direct or indirect contact.⏎
Epidemic - An often sudden increase in the level of disease in a specific population over a given period of time.⏎