NON LIVING SOURCES ::
1.WATER :: water is often contaminated with germs some times with germs of cholera typhoid dysentery etc Ice can harbour germs of typhoid which can grow again when ice melts and comes to normal temperature suitable for its growth Well river pond and cesspool water are full of germs especially in monsoon when the infected earth debris is washed out in water That s why diseases like diarrhoea and dysentery are more prevalent during monsoon
2.FOOD :: Food can be infected if stale especially over ripe and fermented fruits It can be contaminated by dirty water or sewage and also by dirty bands excreta of birds flies insects and dust Cholera typhoid dysentery etc are carried by dirty food and fruits contaminated by dirty water and flies
3.MILK :: It can be contaminated by animal itself water flies dust and dirty milkmen too Milk products may also contain germs
Cow s milk can give rise to bovine tuberculosis if the udders of the cow are infected with tubercles of tuberculosis Abortus fever and streptococcal sore throat can also occur by drinking unboiled milk milk during transit can be contaminated with germs of diphtheria infantile diarrhoea typhoid and food poisoning milk is a rich medium for germs Hence it is risky to take milk without boiling pasteurised milk is safe to take provided it is fool proof Infant s milk feeding bottles with teats get highly infected if not kept clean by boiling milk being a rich medium for microbes
4.Dust :: Dust carries germs that can live even when the dust is dry When wind blows dust flies alongwith air and enters the breath or contaminates the exposed foods fomites or water Germs of tuberculosis anthrax and streptococci can remain alive for months in dry dust This is way the disease is carried to long distances
5.Air :: Air however pure it looks generally contains minute dust particles particles of excreta from human faeces sputum and phlegm animal and bird excreta and the germs through speaking sneezing coughing defaecation urination etc in the air Thus air we breathe contains germs of various diseases e.g. influenza virus Mycobacterium tuberculosis meningococci virus of pertusis (whooping cough ) etc These are carried by air droplet infection and contaminants that it contains
6.Fomites :: These are various articles that come in contact with the patient and therefore with the germs of diseases Fomites include hankerchief towel food vessels furniture and even wall ceiling floors bedpan urine bottle thermometer etc By using the handkerchief of a patient of dribbling nose with catarrh one may catch common cold By using thermometer of the patient suffering from mumps one may develop mumps typhoid may creep in by using the same vessels that the patient of typhoid is using
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