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Pathogen transmission
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==Definition and related terms== An [[infection|infectious disease]] agent can be transmitted in two ways: as {{visible anchor|horizontal}} disease agent transmission from one individual to another in the same generation (peers in the same age group)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.online-medical-dictionary.org/Horizontal+Disease+Transmission.asp?q=Horizontal+Disease+Transmission | title = Horizontal Disease Transmission | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927140147/http://www.online-medical-dictionary.org/Horizontal+Disease+Transmission.asp?q=Horizontal+Disease+Transmission | archive-date=27 September 2007 | work = online-medical-dictionary.org }}</ref> by either direct contact (licking, touching, biting), or indirect contact through air β cough or sneeze ([[Vector (epidemiology)|vectors]] or [[fomites]] that allow the transmission of the agent causing the disease without physical contact)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/archives/IVM/ENG/Modes/routes.htm | title = Routes of transmission of infectious diseases agents | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120315032413/http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/archives/IVM/ENG/Modes/routes.htm | archive-date=15 March 2012 | work = Modes of Introduction of Exotic Animal Disease Agents | vauthors = Kurkjian KM, Little SE | publisher = The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine }}</ref> or by [[vertical disease transmission]], passing the agent causing the disease from parent to offspring, such as in prenatal or [[perinatal transmission]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7982 | title = Vertical transmission | work = medterms.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070328061254/http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7982 | archive-date=28 March 2007 }}</ref> The term '''[[infectivity]]''' describes the ability of an [[organism]] to enter, survive and multiply in the host, while the ''infectiousness'' of a disease agent indicates the comparative ease with which the disease agent is transmitted to other hosts.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.doh.wa.gov/notify/other/glossary.htm | title=Glossary of Notifiable Conditions | publisher=Washington State Department of Health | access-date=3 February 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107002810/http://www.doh.wa.gov/notify/other/glossary.htm | archive-date=7 January 2010 }}</ref> Transmission of pathogens can occur by direct contact, through contaminated food, body fluids or objects, by airborne inhalation or through [[Vector (epidemiology)|vector]] organisms.<ref name=Sherris>{{cite book | veditors = Ryan KJ, Ray CG | title = Sherris Medical Microbiology | edition = 4th | publisher = McGraw Hill | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-0-8385-8529-0 }}</ref> '''Transmissibility''' is the [[probability]] of an infection, given a contact between an infected host and a noninfected host.<ref>{{cite web | vauthors = Jones JH | title = Notes on R<sub>0</sub> | url = https://web.stanford.edu/~jhj1/teachingdocs/Jones-on-R0.pdf | location = Palo Alto, California | publisher = Department of Anthropological Sciences, Stanford University | date = May 2007 | volume = 323 | pages = 1β9 }}</ref> '''Community transmission''' means that the source of infection for the spread of an illness is unknown or a link in terms of contacts between patients and other people is missing. It refers to the difficulty in grasping the epidemiological link in the community beyond confirmed cases.<ref>{{cite web |title=Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources |url=https://asm.org/Press-Releases/2020/COVID-19-Resources}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gainers and losers in the time of nCoV |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/02/10/opinion/columnists/gainers-and-losers-in-the-time-of-ncov/681991/ |website=The Manila Times |date=10 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Global economy looks woozy |url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-dallas-morning-news/20200228/281479278453790 |work=[[Dallas Morning News]] |date=28 February 2020 |via=pressreader.com}}{{subscription required}}</ref> '''Local transmission''' means that the source of the infection has been identified within the reporting location (such as within a country, region or city).<ref name="whositrep47">{{Cite web|url= https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200307-sitrep-47-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=27c364a4_4|title=Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report β 47|website=World Health Organization |access-date=8 March 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200308130605/https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200307-sitrep-47-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=27c364a4_4 |archive-date=8 March 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
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