How Germs Spread
What is the most common way infections spread?
Through our hands (touching people, objects, then our face).
How long should you wash your hands with soap and water?
20 seconds
What do vaccines do?
Train the immune system to recognize and fight germs.
What virus caused the global pandemic in 2020?
COVID-19
Which type of germ can be treated with antibiotics?
Bacteria
How do airborne infections spread?
Through tiny droplets that stay suspended in the air and can be inhaled.
When is hand sanitizer NOT effective?
When hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
What is herd immunity?
When enough people are vaccinated, the spread of the disease is greatly reduced, protecting the community.
Why is antibiotic resistance dangerous?
Because infections become harder to treat when antibiotics no longer work.
Is the flu caused by a bacteria or a virus?
Virus
True or False: Mosquitoes can spread infectious diseases.
True
Name two critical times when you should wash your hands.
Before eating and after using the bathroom (and coughing/sneezing, handling pets, or touching trash).
True or False: Vaccines can cause the disease they are meant to prevent.
False
Give one example of a disease that has reappeared due to lower vaccination rates.
Measles
True or False: Some bacteria are helpful to humans.
True
Germs that float in the air and can travel long distances use this method.
What is airborne transmission?
This part of the hand is most often missed during washing.
Thumbs (or between the fingers)
Dtap vaccine protects against what 3 diseases?
diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis
This is the general term for a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease.
Epidemic
Chickenpox, flu, and COVID-19 are caused by this type of microbe.
Viruses
This bacterium is found in undercooked meat and can cause food poisoning.
What is E. coli?
Hand sanitizer should contain at least this percentage of alcohol to be effective.
60%
This global organization coordinates international vaccination campaigns and tracks vaccine-preventable diseases.
World Health Organization (WHO)
This public health measure involves separating people exposed to a contagious disease.
Quarantine
This antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection is commonly spread in hospitals and locker rooms, and its name is abbreviated as MRSA.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus