The use of an animal to spread an organism from one person to another is called what?

• A. Vector-Borne Transmission
• B. Direct Transmission
• C. Airborne Transmission
• D. Vehicle Transmission

Answer: (A)

The idea here is transmission through a living carrier, known as a vector. A vector is an animal—often an insect like a mosquito or a tick—that carries a pathogen from an infected person to a new host, enabling disease spread without direct person-to-person contact. This is different from direct transmission, where the pathogen moves directly between people through touch or droplets; airborne transmission, which involves inhaling small particles that travel through the air without a living intermediary; and vehicle transmission, where inanimate objects or substances (contaminated water, food, or surfaces) spread the organism. Examples include malaria or dengue fever spreading via a mosquito, or Lyme disease spreading via a tick—illustrating how a living animal intermediary enables the spread.