10.1.2
Causing Diseases
Spreading Disease
Spreading Disease
Transmissible diseases are caused by organisms called pathogens. These are ways an infectious (transmissible) disease can spread directly (through body fluids such as blood or sexual fluids) or indirectly (through contaminated water, in the air or by a vector):


Water
Water
- Some pathogens contaminate water supplies. Pathogens can infect organisms that drink this contaminated water.
- Cholera is a disease spread in this way.


Sex
Sex
- Diseases that are spread through sexual contact (often simply genital to genital contact) are called sexually-transmitted infections (STIs).
- Physical barriers (such as condoms) are very effective at stopping the spread of STIs.
- Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that causes infertility and often has no other symptoms, so easily spreads. Testing and treatment with antibiotics prevents spread.
- HIV can also be passed on through pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Testing and treatment with antiretroviral drugs prevents spread.


Air
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.
- Tuberculosis bacteria are spread in this way.


Animals
Animals
- Rabies is a protist that is spread by animals.
- Rabies can be spread by dogs.


Body fluids
Body fluids
- Ebola and HIV are both spread through direct contact with someone else's body fluids (such as blood).


Contaminated surfaces
Contaminated surfaces
- Norovirus is spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, often leading to illness when someone touches their mouth after touching these surfaces.


Food
Food
- Salmonella is spread through consuming food contaminated with the bacteria, often leading to illness when undercooked poultry or eggs are ingested.
1Classification of Living Organisms
1.1Characteristics of Living Organisms
1.2Concept and Uses of Classification Systems
2Organisation of the Organism
2.1Cell Structure
3Movement Into & Out of Cells
3.2Osmosis
4Biological Molecules
5Enzymes
6Plant Nutrition
6.1Photosynthesis
6.1.1Photosynthesis
6.1.2Photosynthesis - Plant Gas Exchange
6.1.3Photosynthesis in Farming
6.1.4Uses of Glucose
6.1.5Ion Deficiency Conditions
6.1.6Rate of Photosynthesis
6.1.7Photosynthesis Experiments
6.1.8Photosynthesis Equation
6.1.9Photosynthesis - Calculations
6.1.10Limiting Factors
6.1.11Grade 9 - Photosynthesis Experiment
6.1.12Exam-Style Questions - Photosynthesis
7Human Nutrition
7.2Digestive System
7.3Physical Digestion
7.4Chemical Digestion
7.5Absorption
8Transport in Plants
8.1Xylem & Phloem
8.2Water Uptake
8.3Transpiration
9Transport in Animals
9.1Circulatory Systems
9.2Heart
9.3Blood Vessels
10Diseases & Immunity
10.1Diseases & Immunity
11Gas Exchange in Humans
12Respiration
13Excretion in Humans
14Coordination & Response
14.1Coordination & Response
14.2Sense Organs
14.3Hormones
14.4Homeostasis
14.4.1Homeostasis
14.4.2Regulating Internal Conditions
14.4.3Control Systems
14.4.4Negative Feedback
14.4.5Thermoregulation
14.4.6Thermoregulation - Hot and Cold
14.4.7Thermoregulation - Skin
14.4.8Thermoregulation - Sweating & Shivering
14.4.9Thermoregulation - Hairs
14.4.10Thermoregulation - Blood Vessels
14.4.11Blood Glucose
14.4.12Detecting Glucose
14.4.13Type 1 Diabetes
14.4.14End of Topic Test - Homeostasis & Hormones
14.4.15Grade 9 - Hormonal Coordination
16Reproduction
16.1Asexual Reproduction
16.2Sexual Reproduction
16.3Sexual Reproduction in Plants
16.4Sexual Reproduction in Humans
16.5Sex Hormones in Humans
16.6Sexually Transmitted Infections
17Inheritance
17.1Chromosomes, Genes & Proteins
17.2Mitosis & Meiosis
17.3Monohybrid Inheritance
17.3.1Alleles
17.3.2Phenotype
17.3.3Sex Determination
17.3.4Monohybrid Inheritance
17.3.5Punnett Square
17.3.6Blood Groups
17.3.7Sex-linked Disorders
17.3.8Cystic Fibrosis
17.3.9Cystic Fibrosis - Punnett Square
17.3.10Cystic Fibrosis - Pedigree Diagram
17.3.11Test Crosses
17.3.12End of Topic Test - Genes & Inheritance
18Variation & Selection
18.1Variation
18.2Adaptive Features
19Organisms & Their Environment
19.1Energy Flow
19.2Food Chains & Food Webs
19.3Nutrient Cycles
20Human Influence on Ecosystems
20.1Food Supply
20.2Habitat Destruction
20.3Pollution
21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification
21.1Biotechnology & Genetic Modification
Jump to other topics
1Classification of Living Organisms
1.1Characteristics of Living Organisms
1.2Concept and Uses of Classification Systems
2Organisation of the Organism
2.1Cell Structure
3Movement Into & Out of Cells
3.2Osmosis
4Biological Molecules
5Enzymes
6Plant Nutrition
6.1Photosynthesis
6.1.1Photosynthesis
6.1.2Photosynthesis - Plant Gas Exchange
6.1.3Photosynthesis in Farming
6.1.4Uses of Glucose
6.1.5Ion Deficiency Conditions
6.1.6Rate of Photosynthesis
6.1.7Photosynthesis Experiments
6.1.8Photosynthesis Equation
6.1.9Photosynthesis - Calculations
6.1.10Limiting Factors
6.1.11Grade 9 - Photosynthesis Experiment
6.1.12Exam-Style Questions - Photosynthesis
7Human Nutrition
7.2Digestive System
7.3Physical Digestion
7.4Chemical Digestion
7.5Absorption
8Transport in Plants
8.1Xylem & Phloem
8.2Water Uptake
8.3Transpiration
9Transport in Animals
9.1Circulatory Systems
9.2Heart
9.3Blood Vessels
10Diseases & Immunity
10.1Diseases & Immunity
11Gas Exchange in Humans
12Respiration
13Excretion in Humans
14Coordination & Response
14.1Coordination & Response
14.2Sense Organs
14.3Hormones
14.4Homeostasis
14.4.1Homeostasis
14.4.2Regulating Internal Conditions
14.4.3Control Systems
14.4.4Negative Feedback
14.4.5Thermoregulation
14.4.6Thermoregulation - Hot and Cold
14.4.7Thermoregulation - Skin
14.4.8Thermoregulation - Sweating & Shivering
14.4.9Thermoregulation - Hairs
14.4.10Thermoregulation - Blood Vessels
14.4.11Blood Glucose
14.4.12Detecting Glucose
14.4.13Type 1 Diabetes
14.4.14End of Topic Test - Homeostasis & Hormones
14.4.15Grade 9 - Hormonal Coordination
16Reproduction
16.1Asexual Reproduction
16.2Sexual Reproduction
16.3Sexual Reproduction in Plants
16.4Sexual Reproduction in Humans
16.5Sex Hormones in Humans
16.6Sexually Transmitted Infections
17Inheritance
17.1Chromosomes, Genes & Proteins
17.2Mitosis & Meiosis
17.3Monohybrid Inheritance
17.3.1Alleles
17.3.2Phenotype
17.3.3Sex Determination
17.3.4Monohybrid Inheritance
17.3.5Punnett Square
17.3.6Blood Groups
17.3.7Sex-linked Disorders
17.3.8Cystic Fibrosis
17.3.9Cystic Fibrosis - Punnett Square
17.3.10Cystic Fibrosis - Pedigree Diagram
17.3.11Test Crosses
17.3.12End of Topic Test - Genes & Inheritance
18Variation & Selection
18.1Variation
18.2Adaptive Features
19Organisms & Their Environment
19.1Energy Flow
19.2Food Chains & Food Webs
19.3Nutrient Cycles
20Human Influence on Ecosystems
20.1Food Supply
20.2Habitat Destruction
20.3Pollution
21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification
21.1Biotechnology & Genetic Modification
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