S4.4.2 For the adult

How diseases spread

How does a germ get from one person to another when nobody even touches?

What this chapter teaches

Pathogens spread by six routes: air, water, food, touch, blood and insects. Clean water, toilets, hand washing with soap, safe food and mosquito nets each cut one route. A fall in cases can be measured as a percentage or as a rate for every 1 000 people.

Three questions to ask

There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.

  1. Which route does a toilet cut, and how?
  2. Why is washing with soap better than rinsing with water alone?
  3. Why does a bed net protect a sleeper from malaria?

After the chapter, the learner can

  • Explain how diseases spread by air, water, food, touch, blood and insects
  • Explain how mosquito nets, clean water and toilets cut disease

What they copy into their notebook

Pathogens spread by air, water, food, touch, blood and insects. Each route can be cut: covered coughs, clean water, toilets, cooked food, soap and water, and bed nets.

Back to the chapter