What are the primary modes of transmission?

The primary modes of transmission are the main ways germs move from one person to another, like a game of tag, but with tiny invisible players.

Imagine you're playing tag in the playground, and every time someone gets tagged, they become "it" and spread the tag to others. Germs work similarly: when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes, they send out tiny germs into the air like little paper balls, and if another kid breathes them in, they might get sick too.

• Through the air: When a sick person coughs or sneezes, germs float through the air like confetti, others nearby can breathe them in.
• By touching things: If a germ gets on a doorknob, and you touch that doorknob and then your face, the germ might go from the doorknob to your nose or mouth.
• From person to person: Sometimes germs travel when someone touches another person, like high-fives or handshakes.

It's just like sharing toys: if one toy is dirty, and you grab it after someone else, you might get a little "germ tag" too!