smitte

Smitte is the process by which an infectious agent is transmitted from an infected host to a susceptible one, enabling the spread of disease. The term is used in Danish and Norwegian to denote infection and contagion, and related adjectives include smittsom. Pathogens that can be transmitted include viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and, in some contexts, prions. Successful transmission requires a source (reservoir), a route, and a susceptible host.

Common transmission routes include direct contact (person-to-person), indirect contact through fomites, droplet spread from coughing or sneezing within a short distance, airborne transmission via smaller particles that can travel longer distances, vector-borne spread by insects, and ingestion through contaminated food or water (common vehicle). The likelihood of transmission is influenced by factors such as pathogen characteristics, host immunity, environmental conditions, and behaviors.

Public health aims to reduce transmission through vaccination, hygiene and sanitation, ventilation and air filtration, mask use where appropriate, safe sex practices, and safe handling of food and water. When cases occur, measures such as isolation, quarantine of contacts, hand hygiene, surface cleaning, and contact tracing help limit spread. Epidemiologists use metrics like the basic reproduction number (R0), incubation period, and the infectious period to understand and respond to smitte dynamics.

Understanding smitte informs disease surveillance and prevention strategies. Some infections become endemic in certain populations, while others trigger outbreaks or pandemics, often facilitated by global travel and urban crowding.