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Asked by 12parmarm to Lyn, Katy, Paul, PB, Ruth on 20 Jun 2013.
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Peter Balfe answered on 20 Jun 2013:
Several routes exist, through the lungs (airborne), through the gut (contaminated food and water), through bites (insects, ticks, etc.) and through abrasions and cuts are the big ones. Most micro-organisms have evolved highly specific optimal strategies for their preferred route.
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Paul Waines answered on 20 Jun 2013:
They can be passed in all sorts of ways, either by direct contact (touching), or indirect contact (e.g. via a sneeze or cough). If the disease-causing organism is near the part of the body they prefer to live (infect), such as the lungs, nose or maybe in a skin wound (cut), then there’s a risk of disease developing. So try not to let anyone sneeze at you…
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Ee Lyn Lim answered on 21 Jun 2013:
Check out this page! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_(medicine)
Infectious diseases spread through many routes, but which route a specific disease takes depends on the pathogen (viruses, bacteria etc) that’s causing it. You can’t get dengue fever by touching, talking to or being close to someone who has it, but if there’s an Aedes mosquito in the room with you, watch out!
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Katy Brown answered on 21 Jun 2013:
Yep, it depends on the disease. Some diseases just need you to breathe air contaminated with a bacteria or virus from somebody else. Some need a specific insect to move the disease from one person to the next.
Some diseases are easy to pick up, like colds and flu, these diseases are often airborne and infect the lungs. HIV is much more difficult to catch, you can’t get it just by touching someone with HIV, it’s only if your bodily fluids have a chance to mix.
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