Which statement is true about infectious diseases?

Which statement is true about infectious diseases?

• A. They cannot be transmitted from person to person.
• B. They are caused by organisms and can sometimes be passed between people.
• C. They are always genetic.
• D. They are solely due to lifestyle.

Answer: (B)

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, and many of these diseases can spread from one person to another through things like coughing, sneezing, contact, contaminated food or water, or vectors. This statement captures that idea: the disease has a biological cause, and there is potential for transmission between people under the right conditions. It’s not claiming that every infectious disease must be passed between people, only that transmission can occur, which is true for many but not all infections. That makes it the best choice because it reflects the essential reality of infectious diseases: they originate from living organisms and have the capacity to be spread from person to person. It’s not accurate to say they’re always genetic, since they come from pathogens rather than inherited genes. It’s also not right to say they’re solely due to lifestyle—while lifestyle can influence risk and exposure, the root cause is the pathogen. And saying they cannot be transmitted ignores the many contagious infections like the flu or the common cold.

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, and many of these diseases can spread from one person to another through things like coughing, sneezing, contact, contaminated food or water, or vectors. This statement captures that idea: the disease has a biological cause, and there is potential for transmission between people under the right conditions. It’s not claiming that every infectious disease must be passed between people, only that transmission can occur, which is true for many but not all infections.

That makes it the best choice because it reflects the essential reality of infectious diseases: they originate from living organisms and have the capacity to be spread from person to person. It’s not accurate to say they’re always genetic, since they come from pathogens rather than inherited genes. It’s also not right to say they’re solely due to lifestyle—while lifestyle can influence risk and exposure, the root cause is the pathogen. And saying they cannot be transmitted ignores the many contagious infections like the flu or the common cold.