Asymptomatic carriage

Asymptomatic carriage occurs when a person carries a pathogen, like a virus or bacteria, without showing any symptoms of illness. Despite feeling healthy, they can still spread the pathogen to others. This state allows the microorganism to persist in the individual without causing disease, often acting as a reservoir for transmission within the community. Asymptomatic carriers are important in understanding disease spread, especially for contagious illnesses, because they can unknowingly transmit infections even when they feel well.