Infectious disease transmission

Infectious disease transmission is the movement of pathogens between hosts or from environmental sources to hosts. It occurs through routes such as respiratory particles, direct contact, contaminated food or water, and vectors.

Respiratory transmission: The spread of pathogens through particles released from the respiratory tract. Respiratory particles can carry pathogens between hosts during breathing, speaking, coughing, or sneezing.
Pathogen: A biological agent that causes disease in a host. Transmission concerns how pathogens move between hosts or from their surroundings.
Contact tracing: The identification and follow-up of people exposed to an infectious case. Tracing reconstructs potential transmission links so exposed people can test, isolate, or receive care.
1918 influenza pandemic: A global influenza pandemic that caused an estimated tens of millions of deaths from 1918 to 1920. Its rapid global spread shows how respiratory transmission can amplify during mass movement.
Contact transmission: The spread of pathogens through direct physical contact or contact with contaminated surfaces. Contact provides a route from infected people or contaminated objects to susceptible hosts.
Host: An organism that harbors another organism or infectious agent. Hosts are the living sources and destinations of many transmission events.
Isolation: The separation of people with a contagious infection from those who are not infected. Isolation reduces opportunities for infectious people to transmit pathogens.
COVID-19 pandemic: The global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, beginning in 2019. The pandemic demonstrated the effects of respiratory transmission and asymptomatic spread.
Fecal–oral route: A transmission route in which pathogens from feces enter another host through the mouth. It links intestinal infection to contaminated hands, food, or water.
Susceptibility: The degree to which a host can become infected or ill after exposure. Differences in susceptibility alter how often exposures produce infections.

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