What are disease-causing organisms such as bacteria and viruses called?

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Multiple Choice

What are disease-causing organisms such as bacteria and viruses called?

Explanation:
Disease-causing organisms are called pathogens. This term covers bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that can invade a host and lead to illness, which is exactly what water treatment aims to prevent by removing or inactivating them. The other terms are less precise: “germs” is informal and can refer to non-pathogenic microbes as well; “microbes” includes all microscopic life, not all of which causes disease; and “viruses” are only one type of pathogen, not the entire group.

Disease-causing organisms are called pathogens. This term covers bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that can invade a host and lead to illness, which is exactly what water treatment aims to prevent by removing or inactivating them. The other terms are less precise: “germs” is informal and can refer to non-pathogenic microbes as well; “microbes” includes all microscopic life, not all of which causes disease; and “viruses” are only one type of pathogen, not the entire group.

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