Photo by: Irochka. A virus is a small, infectious agent that is made up of a core of genetic material surrounded by a shell of protein. The genetic material (which is responsible for carrying forward hereditary traits from parent cells to offspring) may be either deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA).
Understanding how diseases can spread makes them easier to prevent. What is Airborne Transmission? Airborne transmission occurs when bacteria or viruses travel on dust particles or on small respiratory droplets that may become aerosolized when people sneeze, cough, laugh, or exhale. They hang in the air much like invisible smoke. They can travel on air currents over considerable distances. These droplets are loaded with infectious particles.
The force of a sneeze can send around 100,000 germs a huge distance. Sneezes start at the back of the throat and can spread as many as 40,000 droplets out at rocketing speed of up to 200 miles per hour. If the person has a cold, or the flu, this mucus has the potential to infect those around them. Yuck.