2.1 Transmission of Pathogens

There are different ways in which pathogens spread around and cause infectious diseases, including:

• Direct Transmission
  Direct transmission of a pathogen occurs when a healthy person comes in contact with an infected individual or the source of disease. Direct contact can be simple skin-to-skin contact, sexual contact, or exchange of bodily fluids.

• Indirect Transmission
  Indirect transmission of pathogens occurs when there is a medium for contact between a healthy individual and the infected individual. This medium can be any physical object, sharing of utensils, using the same instruments, etc.

• Vector-borne Transmission
  Vector-borne transmissions occur via other organisms. Infectious diseases are spread around through carrier organisms such as insects and bacteria. For example, dengue fever is transmitted through mosquito bites.