Final answer:
The 4 major groups for the transmission of communicable diseases are direct contact, indirect contact, airborne transmission, and vector-borne transmission.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 4 major groups for the transmission of communicable diseases are:
- Direct contact: This occurs when pathogens spread from person to person through direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with the same surfaces. Examples of direct contact transmission include athlete's foot and warts.
- Indirect contact: This happens when pathogens spread through contact with fomites, which are objects contaminated with the pathogen. For instance, touching a contaminated doorknob and then touching the face can transmit the disease.
- Airborne transmission: Pathogens in droplets expelled during coughing or sneezing can be inhaled by nearby people, leading to new infections. The flu and the common cold are examples of diseases transmitted through the air.
- Vector-borne transmission: Vectors like mosquitoes, ticks, and flies can transmit pathogens from one host to another. They can carry the pathogen on their body (mechanical transmission) or inside their body (biological transmission).