Page 297 - New Medley 5 Semester 1

Spread of Communicable Diseases

 Through direct contact: Some diseases spread through direct contact with a sick

person or by sharing common things like clothing, towel or a handkerchief, etc.
Diseases like chickenpox, measles, mumps and ringworm spread through direct

contact.

 Through air: When a person suffering from
a disease coughs, sneezes or spits, the disease-

causing germs come out into the air and spread
all around. When a healthy person breathes in

this air, the germs enter the body and make him
sick. Common cold, flu and tuberculosis spread

through air.
 Through contaminated food and water: Food

can be a source of germs, if it is not washed

or cooked properly, is stale or is handled with
unclean hands. Vegetables and fruits should be
washed with clean water and stored carefully.

Unclean water is the carrier of germs of many

diseases like typhoid, food poisoning, diarrhoea,
jaundice, etc.

 Through animal bites: Some animals also carry

germs of different diseases in their body. Their Dog bite spreads rabies
bite may transfer these germs to the victim and
hence cause the disease. Diseases like rabies

spread through a dog bite.

 Through insects: Some insects also carry the
germs. The living organisms which carry disease-

causing germs are called vectors. When these

vectors bite a sick person, they suck in blood
containing germs of the disease. When the
same insect bites a healthy person, the germs

are transferred to him. The common diseases

spread by insect bites are malaria, dengue, etc. Mosquitoes spread diseases
like malaria

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