Infectious diseases can spread from one person to another through various routes. Here are some of the most common:

• Direct Contact:
  • Physical Touch: This includes touching, kissing, or sexual contact. Diseases like the common cold, flu, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can spread this way.
  • Droplet Spread: When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, they release droplets containing pathogens. If these droplets land in the eyes, nose, or mouth of someone nearby, it can lead to infection. This is a common way for respiratory illnesses to spread.
• Indirect Contact:
  • Contaminated Surfaces (Fomites): Pathogens can survive on surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and phones. If someone touches a contaminated surface and then touches their face, they can become infected.
  • Airborne Transmission: Some pathogens can remain suspended in the air for longer periods and travel greater distances. This is common for diseases like measles and tuberculosis.
• Vector Transmission:
  • Insects: Mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas can carry pathogens from one person to another. Diseases like malaria, Lyme disease, and Zika virus are spread through vectors.
• Vehicle Transmission:
  • Contaminated Food or Water: Pathogens can contaminate food or water sources, leading to outbreaks of diseases like salmonella, E. coli, and cholera.
  • Contaminated Blood: Sharing needles or receiving unscreened blood transfusions can transmit diseases like HIV and hepatitis.
• Vertical Transmission:
  • Mother to Child: A pregnant woman can transmit certain pathogens to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Examples include HIV, hepatitis B, and Zika virus.

Understanding these routes of transmission is crucial for implementing effective prevention measures, such as hand hygiene, vaccination, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals.

More information can be found on the World Health Organization (WHO) website:WHO - How is COVID-19 transmitted?