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Which respiratory diseases can spread through aerosolized particles in the air?
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infectious disease
Birds are the primary reservoirs of West Nile virus. The virus is transmitted to humans and horses by mosquitoes that have bitten infected birds.
Respiratory diseases spread through airborne transmission occur when small, aerosolized particles containing an infectious agent are released into the air—typically through breathing, coughing, sneezing, or speaking—and are subsequently inhaled by another individual.1
Several significant respiratory diseases are known to be transmitted via these aerosolized particles, including:
- Influenza: Caused by influenza viruses, this illness spreads through airborne droplets produced by infected individuals.12
- Measles: A highly contagious viral disease that spreads through droplets released into the air, where the virus can linger for up to two hours.12
- COVID-19: Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, this disease is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets and aerosols.12
- Tuberculosis: An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks.12
While these diseases are noted for airborne transmission, it is important to distinguish this from droplet transmission, where larger, heavier particles land directly on the mucous membranes of another person. Some illnesses, such as mumps and pertussis, are primarily transmitted through these larger respiratory droplets.12