Question

For viruses to thrive on Earth, they need to keep moving from host to host. For this reason, a virus must use techniques for infecting new hosts and then spreading to others. Smallpox is very capable of spreading from one person to another. Below is a list of ways viruses can spread from one person to another. Place the ways in which smallpox most frequently spreads into the bin labeled "Most Frequent Transmission," place less frequent ways to transmit smallpox in the bin labeled "Less Frequent Transmission," and place all other methods in the bin labeled "Transmission Unlikely."

Answer 1

Answer: Most Frequent Transmission:

Step-by-step explanation:

Most Frequent Transmission:

1. Direct Contact: Smallpox can spread through direct contact with an infected person's skin, saliva, or respiratory droplets. This occurs when a healthy individual touches the infected person or comes into close proximity while they are coughing or sneezing.

2. Respiratory Droplets: Smallpox can be transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can be inhaled by nearby individuals, allowing the virus to enter their respiratory system.

3. Face-to-Face Contact: Close face-to-face contact with an infected person, especially for prolonged periods, can lead to smallpox transmission. This can occur through respiratory droplets or direct contact with infected bodily fluids.

Less Frequent Transmission:

1. Contaminated Objects: Smallpox can spread through contact with contaminated objects or surfaces. If an infected person touches an object or surface and a healthy individual touches the same surface and then touches their face, the virus can be transferred.

2. Airborne Transmission: Although less common, smallpox can be transmitted through the air over long distances. This typically occurs in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation, where the virus remains suspended in the air and can be inhaled by others.

Transmission Unlikely:

1. Vector-Borne Transmission: Smallpox is not typically transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes or ticks. The virus primarily spreads through direct contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.

It is important to note that smallpox has been eradicated globally, with no known natural cases since 1977. However, this information is still relevant for understanding the general modes of viral transmission.