The public health nurse is working at a health fair and encourages a community member to be screened for hypertension. This is an example of which level of prevention?

Choice A reason: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, spreads via tick bites, a classic vector-borne mechanism. Ticks transfer the bacteria during feeding, triggering fever and rash, demonstrating how vectors biologically transmit pathogens between hosts, distinguishing it epidemiologically clearly.

Choice B reason: Anthrax, from Bacillus anthracis, isn’t vector-borne but spreads via spores through direct contact, inhalation, or ingestion, like contaminated soil. No biological vector like ticks is involved; it’s an environmental exposure disease, not reliant on intermediary transmission biologically or consistently.

Choice C reason: Hepatitis B transmits through blood or bodily fluids, not vectors. It’s a viral infection from human-to-human contact, like needle sharing, lacking a biological intermediary like mosquitoes, distinguishing it from vector-borne diseases reliant on external carriers entirely for spread.

Choice D reason: E. coli O157:H7 spreads via contaminated food or water, not vectors. It’s a bacterial pathogen causing gastrointestinal illness, transmitted directly through ingestion, not biologically via insects or animals, separating it from vector-dependent disease transmission mechanisms completely and distinctly.

Choice A reason: Hugging spreads via contact, not a vector like mosquitoes. This errors per epidemiology standards. It’s universally distinct, not vector-borne transmission.

Choice B reason: Sharing a glass is direct contact, not vector-related. Mosquito bites are vectors. This misaligns with nursing knowledge. It’s universally distinct, off-mode.

Choice C reason: Placental spread is vertical, not vector-based like mosquitoes. This errors per public health definitions. It’s universally distinct, different transmission type.

Choice D reason: Mosquito bites are classic vector transmission for diseases. This fits epidemiology standards precisely. It’s universally recognized, distinctly accurate for vectors.