Transcript Spread of Disease

Spread of Disease
O’Connor
Infectious diseases spread
through two types of contact
• Direct contact
• Indirect contact
How Diseases are Transmitted
• Before looking at ways to prevent the spread of
disease, it is helpful to know the ways diseases are
transmitted. Diseases are caused by germs, which
are transmitted from one person to another through
• the air
• urine and feces
• blood
• saliva
• skin
• drainage, such as nasal mucus or pus from open
sores
Direct contact• person to person
– Ex. STD’s, shaking hands, kissing
Indirect Contact• Object to person
– Ex. Sharing drinks, sharing needles,
doorknobs, shopping cart handles, under
cooked or raw foods.
Airborn•
Bacteria in the air
– Ex. Sneezing, air vents
Vector• carried by a host.
– Ex. Dog, mice, rat, fleas, tics,
Airborn Vector•
carried by a flying host.
– Ex. Mosquitos, bats, birds, pigeons
Preventing the Spread of Infectious Disease
• The single most important way ~ frequent hand washing !!
• Avoid close contact with people who are infected.
• Use tissues if you have a cold or flu & throw them away or
cough into elbow not hand.
• Don’t touch other people’s blood or body fluids (e.g. soiled
tissues, band-aides,etc).
• Don't share toothbrushes, eating utensils, drinks, etc.
• Abstain from sexual contact (or reduce risk by a monogamous
mutually faithful relationship & use of condoms).
• Don't use intravenous drugs or get tattoos.
• Treatment of a pregnant woman can reduce the risk of
infecting her baby.
What defenses does your body have that can
prevent you from getting sick, even when you
have been exposed to a pathogen?
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•
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the skin and mucous membranes
chemicals such as acid in the stomach
inflammation
phagocytic cells
Not all Created Equal
• Different diseases pose different risks.
• Some require bodily fluid exposure (AIDS)
• Others can live on inanimate objects like
door handles for long periods of time