How Do Infectious Diseases Spread?

The common cold can spread through coughing, sneezing, sharing food and drinks from someone who is infected or touching surfaces that may be infected. The best way to avoid catching a cold is to wash your hands regularly and be careful of close contact with anyone who may have a cold. The virus causing the cold can last for up to 3 hours on surfaces, so disinfecting regularly can help reduce the risk of transmission.

The flu is quite contagious and can spread from person-to-person from coughing, sneezing and talking. If the flu particles have contact with your eyes, mouth or nose, you can get infected. It can also be transmitted through indirect contact from touching infected surfaces, toys or phones. People infected with the flu virus can spread it to others 1 day before symptoms or 5 days after the first symptoms. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated against the virus every year so that your body is prepared to defend you. Other than the flu, regularly washing your hands, not touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands and disinfecting surfaces that are touched by a lot of people can help reduce transmission.

Children under the age of 5 are at the highest risk of catching the virus that causes Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFM Disease). HFM is contagious and can easily spread with direct contact of unwashed hands, feces (poop) from changing diapers, saliva (spit) or fluid from the nose. It can also be transmitted through close personal contact such as hugging or kissing, coughs or sneezes or contaminated surfaces. Hence, to decrease our chances of getting infected, it is important to wash our hands regularly and clean surfaces that someone may have coughed or sneezed on.

Chickenpox is considered one of the most readily infectious illnesses and is highly contagious. It primarily spreads through direct contact with an individual who has the signature skin rashes or through airborne spread from coughs and sneezes. An infected individual is considered contagious for 1-2 days before they first begin to develop the skin rash and can remain contagious up until the skin rashes begin to fade. If you have gotten chickenpox in the past or have received the vaccine for it, you are a lot less likely to get infected or may experience mild symptoms of the viral infection.

The bacteria that causes strep throat is usually found near your nose and throat. So transmission of strep throat infections primarily occur through direct contact of fluids from an infected person when they cough or sneeze. It can also spread from shaking hands with someone who is infected. This makes strep throat highly contagious, especially amongst children. An infected person is most contagious when experiencing symptoms of strep throat and can easily spread infection. Techniques that you can use to reduce the risk of getting infected with the bacteria that leads to strep throat would include regularly washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes and not sharing personal items such as food or drinks. As antibiotics help to clear the infection, they also reduce the risk of transmission faster.

Ringworm is contagious and can spread from person-to-person through direct contact of the infected region with another individual or through indirect contact such as sharing clothes with someone who may be infected. Practicing proper hygiene such as keeping your skin clean and dry, keeping your hands clean and ensuring that you are not trapping a lot of moisture in your body such as in your shoes is important as the fungi that causes ringworms can really benefit from moist areas.