asymptomatic carriers
Unaware disease transmitters
Asymptomatic carriers are people infected with a disease who show no symptoms but can transmit it to others.
The term gained wide public familiarity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when asymptomatic transmission complicated containment efforts: Many infections were spread by asymptomatic carriers who had no idea they were sick.
The concept applies to various infectious diseases, from typhoid to HIV.
- SARS-CoV-2Pandemic-causing coronavirus species
- contact tracingTracking disease spread connections
- super-spreaderHighly contagious transmitter
- viral sheddingRelease of replicating virus
- Typhoid MaryInfectious but symptom-free spreader
close contact · pathogen · infectious disease · outbreak · community spread · symptomless · host · unknowing · quarantine · incubation period · mask · public health · typhoid · silent · influenza virus · herd immunity · stigma · healthy
- choleracholera vaccine, diarrhea, rehydration, waterborne disease, contaminated water
- fecal-oral diseasescholera, typhoid, norovirus, rotavirus, shigellosis