Which one of the following is an example of airborne disease?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a classic example of an airborne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis [6]. It is transmitted through tiny airborne particles called droplet nuclei, which are expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks [6]. These particles can remain suspended in the air for long periods and travel significant distances [5]. In contrast, Malaria and Dengue are vector-borne diseases transmitted by mosquitoes [2]. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites spread by the Anopheles mosquito [3], while Dengue is a viral infection spread by Aedes aegypti [3]. Cholera is primarily a waterborne disease transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water containing the bacterium Vibrio cholerae [5]. Therefore, among the given options, only Tuberculosis spreads through the airborne route.

Sources

1. [6] https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/tb/precautions.htm
2. [4] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > 3.4.1 How are communicable diseases caused and spread? > p. 33
3. [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222258/
4. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > Transmission > p. 25
5. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Dengue and Chikungunya > p. 79
6. [3] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > Activity 3.4: Let us find out > p. 35