California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CDCR Practice Questions and Study Guide

The most commonly associated method for the transmission of cold and flu viruses is direct contact. This occurs when an individual comes into contact with respiratory droplets from an infected person, often through actions like shaking hands, touching surfaces contaminated with the virus, or sharing personal items. When those droplets enter the body through mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth, they can lead to infection.

Airborne transmission primarily pertains to pathogens that remain suspended in the air over longer distances and times, which is not typical for cold and flu viruses. Skin contact generally involves pathogens that infect through the skin, such as certain bacterial infections or parasites, rather than respiratory illnesses. Vector-borne transmission relates to diseases spread by organisms such as mosquitoes or ticks, which is not applicable to cold and flu viruses, as these infections do not require a living vector for transmission. Thus, direct contact is the most relevant and common method for the spread of these viruses.