vehicleborne

Vehicleborne is an adjective used to describe transmission or transport that involves a vehicle as a carrier, typically an inanimate medium rather than a living vector. In epidemiology, vehicleborne transmission refers to the spread of pathogens through nonliving intermediaries such as contaminated food, water, or surfaces (fomites), rather than through direct person-to-person contact or vectors like insects.

Common forms include foodborne, waterborne, and fomite-mediated transmission. Foodborne and waterborne outbreaks occur when contaminated consumables are ingested or used, while fomite transmission happens when pathogens persist on objects that come into contact with people or food, enabling transfer.

Vehicleborne transmission is distinct from airborne transmission (through aerosols) and vectorborne transmission (via living organisms). Prevention focuses on sanitation, safe food and water supplies, environmental cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, proper handling and storage of food, and vaccination where applicable. In healthcare settings, infection control programs address vehicleborne routes by disinfecting surfaces and equipment and by ensuring sterile processing of medical devices.

In military and transportation contexts, vehicleborne can describe weapons, payloads, or equipment deployed from or delivered by vehicles or mounted on vehicles, where the vehicle serves as the platform or carrier.