Vector (infectious disease)

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 10 Mar 2020

A vector, (also known as a biological vector) in the context of infectious diseases, is a carrier, in particular an animal, and most commonly an arthropod, that transmits the infective entity from one host to another 1. Often the infective agent undergoes some change as part of its normal life cycle in the biological vector.

History and etymology

Vector derives from the Latin word 'vehere', meaning 'to carry' 1

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