Reservoir host

A reservoir host is an organism that carries a pathogen, such as a bacteria or virus, without necessarily becoming sick itself. It serves as a natural source for the pathogen to persist and multiply over time. These hosts help maintain the pathogen in the environment and can sometimes transmit it to other animals or humans, potentially leading to disease outbreaks. Examples include rodents carrying hantavirus or birds spreading West Nile virus. Understanding reservoir hosts is important for controlling and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.