How are airborne pathogens transmitted?

Airborne pathogens are transmitted via tiny respiratory droplets or aerosols that can remain suspended in the air and travel significant distances, often beyond 3 feet. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes, these droplets can be released into the environment. Others may inhale the contaminated air, leading to the spread of the infection.

The characteristic of airborne transmission is that it does not require direct contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces. This is why contact with surfaces, direct person-to-person contact, or ingestion of food do not fall under the method of airborne transmission. For airborne pathogens, the primary concern is the inhalation of droplets that carry infectious agents over relatively long distances.