Transmission

• Direct contact - physical contact between an infected organism and susceptible organism - allows transfer of infected fluids
• Vectors - living organisms that transmit pathogens from one host to another
• Infectious diseases can be spread by direct or indirect contact with an infected individual.
• Droplet spread, or spread via sneezing or coughing, is still an example of direct contact within close range
• Coming into contact with a pathogen by touching an inanimate object would be indirect contact
• Indirect contact can involve air, water, food, contaminated objects or even other organisms
• Vectors are organisms which spread disease. For example, mosquitoes are vectors for malaria
• Indirect contact - contact with an infected person without direct contact with the infected person