Bacteria: Microscopic, single-celled organisms that come in shapes like rods, spirals, or spheres. Most are harmless, but some cause infections and disease.
Communicable Disease: An illness caused by infectious agents that can be transmitted directly or indirectly from one person to another.
Disease Prevention: Actions or measures taken to reduce risk factors and stop diseases before they occur.
Fungus: A single-celled or multicellular organism that can survive outside a host; fungi have a nucleus and a thick cell wall and may cause infections like athlete’s foot.
Hand Hygiene: The process of cleaning hands with soap and water or sanitizer to remove dirt, microbes, and pathogens, reducing infection risk.
Helminths: Parasitic worms that live in or on the body and can cause illness by feeding on the host.
Host: A person or organism that carries a pathogen and may develop symptoms of illness.
Infection Control: Procedures used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, such as proper handwashing, sanitation, and the use of protective equipment.
Non-Communicable Disease: A disease that cannot be transmitted from one person to another, such as diabetes or heart disease.
Pathogen: Any microorganism—such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, or helminths—that causes disease.
Protozoa: Single-celled organisms that move in water and feed on other microorganisms, sometimes causing intestinal or other infections.
Sanitization: The process of cleaning and disinfecting surfaces or objects to remove or kill germs.
Transmission: The process by which a pathogen spreads from one host to another, either directly or indirectly.
Vaccination: A preventive measure that introduces a weakened or inactive pathogen to stimulate the body’s immune response and build resistance to disease.
Virus: A microscopic infectious agent that needs a living host to reproduce, often causing cell damage or illness in the process.