Infectious diseases spread through various means, as microbes travel from an infected person to a healthy individual. The key modes of transmission include:
Airborne Transmission
- Sneezing or coughing releases tiny droplets carrying microbes.
- These droplets remain suspended in the air and infect others who inhale them.
- Examples: Common cold, pneumonia, tuberculosis.
Waterborne Transmission
- Contaminated water carries disease-causing microbes.
- Drinking or using infected water spreads diseases.
- Example: Cholera, typhoid.
Sexual Contact
- Some infections spread through unprotected sexual contact.
- These diseases affect the reproductive system and can be life-threatening.
- Examples: Syphilis, HIV/AIDS.
Animal-borne Transmission (Vectors)
- Animals and insects act as intermediaries (vectors) carrying microbes from an infected person to a healthy host.
- Example: Female Anopheles mosquito spreads malaria.
