COOL
LINK
Bacteria are present high in the atmosphere and drift long distances in the prevailing winds. Food and water are also likely carriers of bacteria. Most bacteria are harmless but others cause diseases such as cholera, pneumonia, leprosy, diphtheria, scarlet fever and tetanus.
Viruses don’t feel as comfortable in the air as bacteria do. They require a host to multiply and most don’t defend well against climatic variations and UV radiation. There are always exceptions, of course, such as the polio virus, which can live long enough to travel several kilometres. Some animal viral diseases can cause outbreaks from some distance away. Nevertheless, close contact is still the major means of spreading viral diseases such as chickenpox, influenza, measles and the common cold.
The skin and the linings of nose, throat and airways are the first line of defence against any dangerous organism. When the immune system is impaired or the mucus layer is dry, the invaders break through the barrier and infect the tissue or enter the bloodstream. A bodily reaction to the invasion can occur at the point of entry or at a distant organ.
Infections
Bacteria and viruses spread in the wind
What is in the book?
Chapter: Air
The atmosphere
Pollution
Dry air
Odour
Weather and pollution
Air and health
Respiratory disorders
Heart disorders
Bronchitis
Hayfever
Asthma
Infectious diseases
Bacteria are the dominant life form on earth and adapt to almost all habitats. In the air they like to attach to other substances, thus increasing their chances of survival.
