Understanding Disease Prevention: 3 Key Methods

1. Vaccination: This involves introducing a weakened or killed form of a pathogen into the body to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against it. This can protect the person from future infection by the same pathogen.

2. Antimicrobial agents: These are drugs that kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Antibiotics, for example, are antimicrobial agents that are used to treat bacterial infections.

3. Vector control: This involves controlling the population of organisms that can transmit diseases, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and rodents. This can be done through the use of insecticides, repellents, and other methods.