Question

Besides droplet infection, diphtheria can also spread through:

Options

• Consuming pasteurized dairy products

• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation

• Receiving blood transfusions from vaccinated donors

• Touching contaminated objects that have the bacteria on them

Answer 1

Diphtheria spreads by touching contaminated objects (fomites) that have the bacteria on them. This contact transmission route is particularly important in settings with poor sanitation, where contaminated surfaces can harbor Corynebacterium diphtheriae and transmit the infection to individuals who touch these objects and subsequently touch their mouth or nose.