Communicable diseases - AQA How to prevent the spread of diseases
Pathogens are disease-causing viruses, bacteria, fungi or protists, which can infect animals and plants. Humans have an immune system, which can defend them from pathogens.
The transmission The spreading of pathogenic disease, for example by touch, food, water. of pathogenMicroorganism that causes disease. can be prevented or reduced in a number of ways. A number of important methods of doing this are shown in the table below.
Method
Example
How it works
Sterilising water
Cholera
Chemicals or UV light kill pathogens in unclean water.
Suitable hygiene - food
Salmonella
Cooking foods thoroughly and preparing them in hygienic conditions kills pathogens.
Suitable hygiene - personal
Athlete's foot
Washing surfaces with disinfectants kills pathogens.
Treating existing cases of infection kills pathogens.
Vaccination
Measles
Vaccinations introduce a small or weakened version of a pathogen into your body, and the immune system learns how to defend itself.
Contraception
HIV/AIDs
Using barrier contraception, like condoms, stops the transfer of bodily fluids and sexually transmitted diseases.
Method
Sterilising water
Example
Cholera
How it works
Chemicals or UV light kill pathogens in unclean water.
Method
Suitable hygiene - food
Example
Salmonella
How it works
Cooking foods thoroughly and preparing them in hygienic conditions kills pathogens.
Method
Suitable hygiene - personal
Example
Athlete's foot
How it works
Washing surfaces with disinfectants kills pathogens.
Treating existing cases of infection kills pathogens.
Method
Vaccination
Example
Measles
How it works
Vaccinations introduce a small or weakened version of a pathogen into your body, and the immune system learns how to defend itself.
Method
Contraception
Example
HIV/AIDs
How it works
Using barrier contraception, like condoms, stops the transfer of bodily fluids and sexually transmitted diseases.