Can you catch it?
Some diseases spread between people. Some cannot.
Sitting next to a friend
Your classmate has flu. Another classmate has diabetes. You sit next to both of them.
Can you catch both diseases from them?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Communicable diseases are caused by pathogens and can spread from one person to another; non-communicable diseases are not caused by pathogens, cannot spread between people, and are usually linked to lifestyle, diet and/or environment.
Sitting next to a friend
Your classmate has flu. Another classmate has diabetes. You sit next to both of them.
Can you catch both diseases from them?
- Yes, both
- Only one of them
- Neither
Spend a week together
Choose a disease for the person on the left. Then see if it passes to the friend.
Two types of disease
Communicable diseases are caused by pathogens and can spread from one person to another. Non-communicable diseases are not caused by pathogens, cannot spread between people, and are usually linked to lifestyle, diet and/or environment.
- Communicable | Non-communicable
- Caused by pathogens | Not caused by pathogens; usually linked to lifestyle, diet and/or environment
- Can spread between people | Cannot spread between people
- Typhoid, dengue, flu, chickenpox, COVID-19 | Cancer, diabetes, asthma
Notes
Communicable diseases are caused by pathogens and can spread between people. Non-communicable diseases are not caused by pathogens, cannot spread, and are usually linked to lifestyle, diet and/or environment.
- Communicable | Non-communicable
- Typhoid, dengue, flu, chickenpox, COVID-19 | Cancer, diabetes, asthma
Check yourself
Which of these is a communicable disease?
What are non-communicable diseases usually linked to?
Your classmate has asthma. Can you catch it from them?
- Chickenpox — correct. Yes. Pathogens cause it and it can spread.
- Diabetes. Diabetes is not caused by pathogens and cannot spread.
- Cancer. Cancer is not caused by pathogens and cannot spread.
- Lifestyle, diet and/or environment — correct. Yes. They are not caused by pathogens.
- Pathogens. Diseases caused by pathogens are communicable.
- Sharing a towel. That is a way pathogens can spread, so it belongs to communicable diseases.
- No, because it is not caused by pathogens — correct. Yes. A non-communicable disease cannot spread between people.
- Yes, if you sit close to them. Asthma is not caused by pathogens, so it cannot spread.
- Yes, by breathing the same air. Asthma is not caused by pathogens, so it cannot spread.