There are 5 main routes of environmental transmission of pathogens. Those are of aerial, food, water, vector and blood origin. Airborne transmission refers to any disease caused by a pathogen and transmitted through the air. These pathogens can be spread by coughing, sneezing, mixing dust, spraying liquids or in general any activity that generates aerosol particles or droplets. These pathogens can include viruses, bacteria or fungi. Some common examples of pathogens that spread through the air are rhinovirus, hantavirus, adenovirus, and influenza, among many others (cdc.gov). Foodborne transmission refers to any disease resulting from consumption of contaminated food, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites that contaminate food, as well as chemical or natural toxins such as poisonous mushrooms (cdc.gov). Bacteria are most often the pathogen causing foodborne illnesses. This is usually due to improper food handling, improper food preparation, and improper food storage. According to the CDC, the top 5 pathogens contributing to foodborne illnesses are Norovirus, nontyphoidal Salmonella, Clostridium perfrigens, Campylobacter spp. and Staphylococcus aureus. Waterborne transmission refers to diseases that are acquired through usually contaminated fresh water. Infection occurs during bathing, swimming, drinking, preparing food, or eating food that has been infected with a waterborne pathogen. Most pathogens present in water are protozoa, bacteria, viruses and parasites. Common examples of waterborne pathogens are Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio cholerae, and Legionella pneumophila, along with humans......middle of paper......housing facility, patients were older and more susceptible to disease. Prevention of this virus would have been simple. There is a vaccine for hepatitis B, however it was not used routinely until the 1980s, so many of these older adults may not have received it. Furthermore, there are ways to avoid the transmission of hepatitis B (assisted blood sugar monitoring). The staff could have simply followed the rules and regulations established by the CDC to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Outbreaks like this are less likely to occur in places like nursing homes because they are subject to federal regulations where these assisted living facilities are not. Federal regulation can also help prevent epidemics like this. Adequate training of personnel in the area of ​​bloodborne pathogen transmission should be a requirement.