WEEK 8 - Lec 1.2 - Viral transmission and treatment

Modes of viral transmission

The methods by which viruses are spread, including direct and indirect contact.

Direct contact

Transmission of viruses through person-to-person contact, often involving respiratory secretions, urogenital contact, or skin.

Indirect contact

Transmission of viruses through contaminated objects, vehicles, or vectors, such as food, water, or mosquitoes.

Common vehicle

A method of indirect transmission where contaminated food or water serves as a means of spreading viruses.

Vector

An organism, such as a mosquito, that transmits a virus from one host to another.

Fomites

Inanimate objects that can harbor viruses and facilitate indirect transmission, such as door handles or needles.

Viral shedding

The release of virus particles from an infected individual, often through lesions or bodily fluids.

Human reservoir

Humans as hosts where viruses can persist and be transmitted to others.

Animal reservoir

Animals that harbor viruses and can transmit them to humans.

Acute viral disease

A type of viral infection that develops quickly and typically resolves shortly, such as Rhinovirus.

Chronic viral disease

A viral infection that develops slowly and lasts for a long, indefinite period, such as HIV or Hepatitis B and C.

Latent viral disease

An infection characterized by periods of no symptoms between episodes of illness, exemplified by Herpes virus.

Local viral infection

Infection confined to a specific area within the body, such as Hepatitis C affecting the liver.

Systemic viral infection

Infection that affects most of the body, with pathogens widely distributed, examples include HIV and Ebola.

Good hygiene practices

Measures to prevent viral diseases, including frequent hand washing and avoiding contaminated food and water.

Vaccines

Preparations that stimulate the body’s natural defenses against viruses, often containing weakened or killed virus particles.

Antiviral drugs

Medications that inhibit viral development or relieve symptoms but do not cure chronic infections.

Host cell metabolic functions

Biological processes of the host cell that viruses exploit for replication.

Virus-specific events

Process or interactions unique to a virus needed for its replication and spread.

Restricted spectrum of activity

Antiviral agents typically target only a limited range of viruses without affecting the host's metabolism.

Viral replication

The process by which viruses reproduce and spread within a host organism.