Unit 12: Diseases and Infection
BTEC Assignment
Aim B: Examine the transmission of infectious diseases
and how this can be prevented
1
, Direct Contact Indirect Contact
Person to person. Infectious diseases Contaminated objects/surfaces. Many germs
commonly spread through the direct transfer of can linger on objects, such as a tabletop,
bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms from doorknob, or handle. You can pick up germs
one person to another. When someone who from a doorknob that has been handled by
isn't affected touches, kisses, coughs, or someone who has the flu. If you then touch your
sneezes on that person, the bacterium or virus eyes, mouth, or nose before washing your
can spread. hands, you may become infected.
Animal to person. Even if it is a pet, being Insect bites (vector-borne disease). Insects
bitten or scratched by an infected animal can that suck blood (like mosquitoes, fleas, and
make you sick and, in severe situations, cause ticks) could transmit disease. The insects
death. Handling animal manure may also be become infected when they feed on infected
dangerous. hosts, such as animals and humans. Then, the
disease is transmitted when the insect bites a
new host.
Droplet spread (airborne disease). Droplet
spray from coughing and sneezing can transmit
Food contamination. Infectious diseases can be
an infectious disease. You can even infect
transmitted through food and water
another person by releasing droplets while you
2
, talk. Because droplets fall to the ground within contaminated by viruses or bacteria. E. coli is
a few feet of each other, this sort of frequently transmitted through infected produce
transmission requires close proximity or undercooked meat. Improperly canned foods
can create an environment ripe for this bacteria
to grow.
3
BTEC Assignment
Aim B: Examine the transmission of infectious diseases
and how this can be prevented
1
, Direct Contact Indirect Contact
Person to person. Infectious diseases Contaminated objects/surfaces. Many germs
commonly spread through the direct transfer of can linger on objects, such as a tabletop,
bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms from doorknob, or handle. You can pick up germs
one person to another. When someone who from a doorknob that has been handled by
isn't affected touches, kisses, coughs, or someone who has the flu. If you then touch your
sneezes on that person, the bacterium or virus eyes, mouth, or nose before washing your
can spread. hands, you may become infected.
Animal to person. Even if it is a pet, being Insect bites (vector-borne disease). Insects
bitten or scratched by an infected animal can that suck blood (like mosquitoes, fleas, and
make you sick and, in severe situations, cause ticks) could transmit disease. The insects
death. Handling animal manure may also be become infected when they feed on infected
dangerous. hosts, such as animals and humans. Then, the
disease is transmitted when the insect bites a
new host.
Droplet spread (airborne disease). Droplet
spray from coughing and sneezing can transmit
Food contamination. Infectious diseases can be
an infectious disease. You can even infect
transmitted through food and water
another person by releasing droplets while you
2
, talk. Because droplets fall to the ground within contaminated by viruses or bacteria. E. coli is
a few feet of each other, this sort of frequently transmitted through infected produce
transmission requires close proximity or undercooked meat. Improperly canned foods
can create an environment ripe for this bacteria
to grow.
3
