pathogen transmission

Question 1

define transmission

Answer 1

a passage or transfer of a disease from one individual to another

Question 2

what is direct transmission?

Answer 2

• The disease is passed directly from one individual to another

Question 3

what are the two types of direct transmission?

Answer 3

Person to person

• An infected person exchanges bodily fluids with another person
  e. g., Ebola, HIV, measles

Droplet

• Spread through coughing and sneezing
• Droplets containing infectious agents land on nearby people
  e. g., tuberculosis, chicken pox, influenza

Question 4

what is indirect transmission?

Answer 4

• Passed from an infected person to another even though the two people have not had direct contact

Question 5

what are the three types of indirect transmission?

Answer 5

Faecal – oral

• Faeces (microscopic) are transmitted from one person to another by mouth
  e. g., E.coli, norovirus

Airborne

• Infectious agents enter air and is inhaled or comes in contact with another person
• Through coughing and sneezing
  e. g., measles, influenza

Fomites

• An inanimate object that serves as a vehicle to pass an infectious disease
• Water fountain, table, handle
  e. g., influenza, MRSA, Ebola, norovirus

Question 6

what is vector transmission?

Answer 6

• Requires another organism to transmit a disease from person to person or animal to person

Question 7

what is the one type of vector transmission?

Answer 7

Insect bite

• Transmission of parasites
• Mosquitoes acquire malaria and transmit those parasites to other people
• Feed on people to transmit
  e. g., malaria, zika virus

Question 8

how can transmissions of diseases be reduced?

Answer 8

• Wear mechanical barriers
• Wash hands regularly
• Isolate when sick
• Clean surfaces
• Get vaccinated
• Cook food thoroughly