Editing Diphtheria (section)

== Transmission ==
Human-to-human transmission of diphtheria typically occurs through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. Breathing in particles released from the infected individual leads to infection.<ref>[https://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/about/causes-transmission.html Diphtheria Causes and Transmission] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413123404/http://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/about/causes-transmission.html |date=13 April 2014 }}. U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2016).</ref> Contact with any lesions on the skin can also lead to transmission of diphtheria, but this is uncommon.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Youwang Y. |author2=Jianming D. |author3=Yong X. |author4=Pong Z. |title=Epidemiological features of an outbreak of diphtheria and its control with diphtheria toxoid immunization|journal=International Journal of Epidemiology|volume=21|issue=4|pages=807–11|pmid=1521987|year=1992 |doi=10.1093/ije/21.4.807}}</ref> Indirect infections can occur, as well. If an infected individual touches a surface or object, the bacteria can be left behind and remain viable. Also, some evidence indicates diphtheria has the potential to be [[Zoonosis|zoonotic]], but this has yet to be confirmed. ''Corynebacterium ulcerans'' has been found in some animals, which would suggest zoonotic potential.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Hogg R. A. |author2=Wessels J. |author3=Hart A. |author4=Efstratiou A. |author5=De Zoysa G. |author6=Mann T. |author7=Pritchard G. C. |title=Possible zoonotic transmission of toxigenic ''Corynebacterium ulcerans'' from companion animals in a human case of fatal diphtheria|journal=The Veterinary Record|volume=165|issue=23|pages=691–2|pmid=19966333|year=2009 |doi=10.1136/vr.165.23.691|s2cid=8726176 }}</ref>