Vehicle transmission

Definition

Vehicle transmission refers to the means by which infectious agents are carried from one host to another through various types of transport, such as vehicles like water, food, or air. It is a critical concept in understanding how diseases spread and how outbreaks can be controlled.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Vehicle transmission can involve both living and non-living carriers.
2. Common vehicles include contaminated food, water, and air.
3. This mode of transmission often leads to large-scale outbreaks due to the widespread nature of the vehicles.
4. Proper sanitation and hygiene practices are crucial in preventing vehicle transmission of pathogens.
5. Examples of diseases commonly spread through vehicle transmission include cholera (water), salmonellosis (food), and tuberculosis (air).

Review Questions

• What are some common vehicles involved in disease transmission?
• How can vehicle transmission lead to large-scale outbreaks?
• Give two examples of diseases that are transmitted via vehicle transmission.

Related terms

Direct Contact Transmission: The transfer of infectious agents through physical contact between an infected host and a susceptible individual.

Vector Transmission: Involves organisms such as mosquitoes or ticks that carry pathogens from one host to another.

Fomite Transmission: The spread of pathogens via inanimate objects like doorknobs, utensils, or medical equipment.