Rina's brother has cholera. Their neighbour has malaria…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Rina's brother has cholera. Their neighbour has malaria. A girl in her class has influenza. For each illness, name the group of microbes that causes it and say how it spreads.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Infectious diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and worms. They spread through the air, water and food, contact and blood, from mother to child, and by vectors such as the female Anopheles mosquito and the housefly. The organ where the microbe settles decides the signs: the lungs, the liver or the brain.
The worked solution
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Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Cholera. It is caused by a bacterium, Vibrio cholerae, and spreads through dirty water and food.
Step 2. Malaria. It is caused by a protozoan, Plasmodium, and is spread by the female Anopheles mosquito, the vector.
Step 3. Influenza. It is caused by a virus, and spreads through the air in coughs and sneezes.
Answer: cholera is bacterial and waterborne; malaria is protozoan and vector-borne; influenza is viral and air-borne.
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