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Monitoring & maintaining health - Communicable diseases - OCR Gateway How to prevent the spread of diseases

Health is the state of physical and mental well-being. Factors can work together to both physical and mental health. A disease is a disorder that affects an organism’s body, organs, tissues or cells.

Part of Biology (Single Science)Global challenges

How to prevent the spread of diseases

The of can be prevented or reduced in a number of ways. Important methods of doing this are shown in the table below.

MethodExampleHow it works
Sterilising waterCholeraChemicals or UV light kill pathogens in unclean water.
Suitable hygiene - foodSalmonellaCooking foods thoroughly and preparing them in hygienic conditions kills pathogens.
Suitable hygiene - personalAthlete's footWashing surfaces with disinfectants kills pathogens. Treating existing cases of infection kills pathogens.
VaccinationMeaslesVaccines introduce a genetically modified or weakened version of a pathogen into your body, and the immune system learns how to defend itself.
ContraceptionHIV/AIDsUsing barrier contraception like condoms stops the transfer of bodily fluids and sexually transmitted diseases.
Avoid overcrowdingPowdery mildewKeeping organisms away from one another reduces the chance of the pathogen being close enough to spread from one organism to another.
MethodSterilising water
ExampleCholera
How it worksChemicals or UV light kill pathogens in unclean water.
MethodSuitable hygiene - food
ExampleSalmonella
How it worksCooking foods thoroughly and preparing them in hygienic conditions kills pathogens.
MethodSuitable hygiene - personal
ExampleAthlete's foot
How it worksWashing surfaces with disinfectants kills pathogens. Treating existing cases of infection kills pathogens.
MethodVaccination
ExampleMeasles
How it worksVaccines introduce a genetically modified or weakened version of a pathogen into your body, and the immune system learns how to defend itself.
MethodContraception
ExampleHIV/AIDs
How it worksUsing barrier contraception like condoms stops the transfer of bodily fluids and sexually transmitted diseases.
MethodAvoid overcrowding
ExamplePowdery mildew
How it worksKeeping organisms away from one another reduces the chance of the pathogen being close enough to spread from one organism to another.