Airborne Disease: Measles (viral infection)
 Provide details on how the disease is
transmitted between members of a
community.
The disease spreads through the air by
respiratory droplets produced from coughing
or sneezing.
Impact on the Human Body
 Research the signs and symptoms of the
selected disease and describe how the
human body responds to becoming
infected.
Signs and symptoms can take up to 12 days to
appear and may consist of; fever, cough,
runny nose, sore or red eyes, and also skin
rash. The human body responds to the
disease by experiencing fever which can
inactivate the virus due to the rise in
temperature.
Waterborne Disease: Cholera (bacterial
infection)
The disease spreads through contaminated
water (and food) that contains the bacteria
known as Vibrio Cholerae.
Common symptoms of Cholera may include
pain in the abdomen, vomiting, watery
diarrhoea, dehydration and lethargy. The
body responds to the disease by excreting an
increased amount of diarrhoea which
becomes watery due to the effects of the
toxin produced by the bacteria.
Vector borne Disease: Malaria (parasite –
which is different from bacteria and viruses)
The disease spreads through a parasite
carried by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes pick up
the parasite from an infected person and pass
it to other people when the mosquito bites
them.
Signs and symptoms of the disease may
include chills, fever and sweating which
usually begins a few weeks after being bitten.
Another symptom which can occur is pallor
appearance due to anaemia which is the
result of the parasite infecting red blood
cells in the bloodstream.
Contact (direct/indirect): Influenza (viral
infection)
The disease mainly spreads through droplets
made when an infected person coughs or
sneezes. Influenza can also be spread through
touching surfaces where infected droplets
have landed.
Symptoms may include fever, chills, coughing,
congestion of the airways, runny nose, and
sneezing. The body responds to the disease by
coughing out mucus (from the nose) or
phlegm (from the throat and lungs) that
contains the virus. The body also responds to
the infection by fever which increases the
temperature to kill the virus.
Ingestion: Gastroenteritis (can be caused by
viruses or bacteria)
The disease can be spread from person to
person by sharing food, water, or contact
with food/surfaces infected by another
person’s diarrhoea or vomit.
Symptoms may include pain in the abdomen,
diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and loss
of appetite. The human body responds to the
disease by the process of inflammation which
prevents the infection from spreading and
removes unwanted material.
Droplet: Meningitis
The disease can be spread by transmission of
the bacteria from person to person through
droplets or respiratory secretions.
Symptoms may include inflammation of the
brain and spinal cord, headache, neck
stiffness, vomiting and fatigue. The human
body responds to the disease by the process
of inflammation which prevents the infection
from spreading and removes unwanted
material.
Difference between airborne and droplet
transmission:
Airborne – droplets remain in the air for long
periods of time and can be transmitted to
others over long distances
Droplet – occurs when a person is in close
contact with someone who has respiratory
symptoms