Epidemiology
Vector (Disease)
An organism that transmits a pathogen from one host to another without itself being affected by the disease. Common vectors include mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
Biological Context
Mosquitoes vector malaria, dengue, and Zika. Ticks vector Lyme disease. Vectors are essential to the life cycle of many pathogens, and controlling vectors is often key to disease prevention. Climate change is expanding the range of many disease vectors.