Stopping the movement of pathogens
micro organismsMicroscopic living things such as archaea, bacteria and some species of eukaryotes. cover every surface around us. Most are harmless but some microorganisms, called pathogenMicroorganism that causes disease., can cause harm.
The simplest way to prevent disease is to stop pathogens from spreading. This means using simple measures such as good hygiene and effective sanitationThe treatment and proper disposal of sewage. to contain pathogens and dispose of them safely.
| Measure to contain the movement of pathogens | How it works |
| Clean water | Homes, work and public places are supplied with water which contains no pathogens. |
| Plumbing | Homes, work and public places are provided with plumbing and drains to safely remove faeces and waste which can carry pathogens. |
| Clean surfaces | Washing surfaces with disinfectant kills bacteria and fungi. |
| Personal health and hygiene | Washing with soap removes substances which trap pathogens as well as pathogens themselves from the skin. Use tissues to catch sneezes and coughs. Dispose of them as soon as possible as pathogens can still be alive. |
| Treating wounds | Clean and cover wounds to keep them sterile. This protects from fungi, bacteria, protists or viruses. |
| Food preparation | Some bacteria form spores that survive high temperatures and then grow again. This is why it is important to avoid contamination in the first place. Keep food cold so bacteria and fungi reproduce more slowly. Prepare food hygienically to avoid contamination from pathogens by washing hands well with soap and cleaning work surfaces with products such as bleach to kill pathogens. Cook food well (long enough at high temperature) to kill bacteria and fungi. |
| Using condoms | Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea (caused by bacteria) and AIDS (caused by human immunodeficiency virus, HIV) can be reduced by using condoms. Condoms reduce the risk of body fluids from one person entering the other during sex. |
| Measure to contain the movement of pathogens | Clean water |
|---|---|
| How it works | Homes, work and public places are supplied with water which contains no pathogens. |
| Measure to contain the movement of pathogens | Plumbing |
|---|---|
| How it works | Homes, work and public places are provided with plumbing and drains to safely remove faeces and waste which can carry pathogens. |
| Measure to contain the movement of pathogens | Clean surfaces |
|---|---|
| How it works | Washing surfaces with disinfectant kills bacteria and fungi. |
| Measure to contain the movement of pathogens | Personal health and hygiene |
|---|---|
| How it works | Washing with soap removes substances which trap pathogens as well as pathogens themselves from the skin. Use tissues to catch sneezes and coughs. Dispose of them as soon as possible as pathogens can still be alive. |
| Measure to contain the movement of pathogens | Treating wounds |
|---|---|
| How it works | Clean and cover wounds to keep them sterile. This protects from fungi, bacteria, protists or viruses. |
| Measure to contain the movement of pathogens | Food preparation |
|---|---|
| How it works | Some bacteria form spores that survive high temperatures and then grow again. This is why it is important to avoid contamination in the first place. Keep food cold so bacteria and fungi reproduce more slowly. Prepare food hygienically to avoid contamination from pathogens by washing hands well with soap and cleaning work surfaces with products such as bleach to kill pathogens. Cook food well (long enough at high temperature) to kill bacteria and fungi. |
| Measure to contain the movement of pathogens | Using condoms |
|---|---|
| How it works | Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea (caused by bacteria) and AIDS (caused by human immunodeficiency virus, HIV) can be reduced by using condoms. Condoms reduce the risk of body fluids from one person entering the other during sex. |
When it goes wrong
Sometimes the spread of disease gets out of control. This can lead to:
- an epidemicA major outbreak of a disease that spreads rapidly to a lot of people. if many individuals in a population have it, or
- a pandemicAn outbreak of a disease affecting many populations over a wide geographical area. if it spreads over a wide geographical area
Learn more about communicable diseases with Dr Alex Lathbridge.
Listen to the full series on 大象传媒 Sounds.
In this podcast, learn the key facts about communicable diseases. Listen to the full series on 大象传媒 Sounds.