3.1.2

Causing Diseases

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Spreading Disease

There are three ways an infectious disease can spread:

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Direct contact

  • Some pathogens live on the surface of other organisms, such as the skin. If infected skin touches a surface, some of the pathogens can transfer from the infected skin to the surface.
  • The pathogen then spreads to other people who also touch that surface. Athlete's foot is spread in this way.
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Water

  • Some pathogens contaminate water supplies. Organisms drinking this contaminated water can be infected by pathogens.
  • Cholera is a disease spread in this way.
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Air

  • Some pathogens are released into the air inside droplets when an organism coughs or sneezes. These droplets can then be inhaled (breathed in) by other organisms.
  • The flu and common colds are spread in this way.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

1.1What's in Cells?

1.2Cell Division

1.3Transport in Cells

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

5.1Homeostasis

5.2The Human Nervous System

5.3Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4Plant Hormones

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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