Disease transmission

Disease Transmission

Disease transmission (pronunciation: /dɪˈziːz trænsˈmɪʃən/) refers to the process by which infectious diseases are spread from one individual to another. This can occur through various methods, including direct contact, indirect contact, droplet transmission, airborne transmission, fecal-oral transmission, and vector-borne transmission.

Etymology

The term "disease" originates from the Old French desaise, meaning "lack of ease". "Transmission" comes from the Latin transmissio, meaning "a sending over or across".

Types of Disease Transmission

• Direct Contact: This occurs when an individual comes into physical contact with an infected person or animal. This can include touching, kissing, sexual contact, or contact with bodily fluids.

• Indirect Contact: This type of transmission occurs when an individual comes into contact with a surface or object that an infected person has touched.

• Droplet Transmission: This occurs when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing droplets into the air that can be inhaled by others.

• Airborne Transmission: This type of transmission occurs when tiny particles from an infected person's respiratory fluids become airborne and are inhaled by others.

• Fecal-Oral Transmission: This occurs when pathogens in fecal particles pass from one person to the mouth of another person. This is a common method of transmission for many diseases, particularly in areas with poor sanitation.

• Vector-Borne Transmission: This occurs when an infected animal or insect (the vector) transmits a disease to a human.

Related Terms

• Infectious Disease: A disease caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi, that can be spread directly or indirectly from one person to another.

• Pathogen: A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.

• Epidemiology: The study and analysis of the distribution, patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.

• Pandemic: An outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population.

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