http://www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Human Biology
1.55 Preventing Infectious Diseases
- State how infectious diseases can be prevented.
What is this girl doing to prevent the spread of the flu?
Notice how this girl is covering her nose and mouth with a tissue as she sneezes. This is a good habit that helps
prevent her from passing on the flu virus to other people. Notice she is also staying home and resting instead of
going out and possibly infecting others with her illness.
Preventing Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseasesare diseases that spread from person to person. What can you do to avoid infectious diseases?
Eating right and getting plenty of sleep are a good start. These habits will help keep your immune system healthy.
With a healthy immune system, you will be able to fight off many pathogens.
You can also take steps to avoid pathogens in the first place. The best way to avoid pathogens is to wash your hands
often. You should wash your hands after using the bathroom or handling raw meat or fish. You should also wash
your hands before eating or preparing food. In addition, you should wash your hands after being around sick people.
The correct way to wash your hands is demonstrated below (Figure1.111). If soap and water aren’t available, use a
hand sanitizer.
The best way to prevent diseases spread by vectors is to avoid contact with the vectors. For example, you can wear
long sleeves and long pants to avoid tick and mosquito bites. Using insect repellent can also reduce your risk of
insect bites.