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Germ Theory
The germ theory of disease is the contemporary scientific theory for causation of infectious diseases. In this theory, the central tenet is that microbial organisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses, protozoa, prions, and fungi) are the causative agents behind many diseases.
From before recorded history, infections have plagued both animals and humankind. The effects were devastating, and it was understood that when a disease appeared, social distancing or quarantine would normally cause the spread to stop. Each disease, however, brings with it a different challenge when it comes to managing and defeating an infectious outbreak. To achieve these objectives requires an understanding of the causative agent, its source, and what it takes to treat it. Throughout the centuries, and with the advent of the Enlightenment, many of these ...
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