How germs travel

The idea

Pathogens enter the body through the air we breathe or contaminated food and water, and spread through coughs and sneezes, direct contact, sharing an infected person's personal items, contaminated food or water, and insects.

A classmate has the flu

A classmate has the flu. She is sitting two rows away. Pathogens do not have legs or wings of their own, yet they can reach other people.

How many ways do you think pathogens can travel from one person to another?

• Only one way
• Several different ways
• They cannot travel at all

Follow the pathogens

Tap each way and watch the pathogens travel from the infected person to the healthy one.

Five ways

Pathogens enter the body through the air we breathe or contaminated food and water. They spread through coughs and sneezes, direct contact, sharing an infected person's personal items, contaminated food or water, and insects.

• Way it spreads | Example from the book
• Through the air: coughs and sneezes | Common cold, flu, chickenpox, measles, tuberculosis
• Direct contact, or sharing personal items | Shaking hands; sharing towels and handkerchiefs
• Contaminated food or water | Hepatitis A, cholera, typhoid
• Insects | Malaria, dengue

Notes

Pathogens enter through the air we breathe or contaminated food and water. They spread by coughs and sneezes, direct contact, shared personal items, contaminated food or water, and insects.

• Way it spreads | Example
• Coughs and sneezes | Flu, tuberculosis
• Direct contact | Shaking hands
• Sharing personal items | Towels, handkerchiefs
• Contaminated food or water | Cholera, typhoid
• Insects | Malaria, dengue

Check yourself

Through which two things can pathogens enter the body?

An infected person coughs near you. How can the pathogens reach you?

Which of these can spread pathogens?

• The air we breathe, and contaminated food or water — correct. Yes. These are two ways pathogens enter the body.
• Only sunlight. Pathogens do not enter through sunlight.
• Only clean boiled water. Clean boiled water is safe to drink.
• Through the air you breathe — correct. Yes. Coughs and sneezes spread pathogens through the air.
• Only through food. Coughs and sneezes spread pathogens through the air.
• They cannot reach you. Pathogens from coughs and sneezes can spread through the air.
• Sharing a towel with an infected person — correct. Yes. Sharing an infected person's personal items can pass on pathogens.
• Washing hands with soap. Soap and water remove pathogens. This helps stop the spread.
• Drinking clean, boiled water. Clean boiled water is safe. Contaminated water spreads pathogens.