Reservoir Hosts

Reservoir hosts are organisms that harbor pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria, without showing symptoms of illness themselves. These hosts play a crucial role in the maintenance and circulation of diseases within an ecosystem. While they may not get sick, they can transmit the pathogens to other animals or humans, potentially causing outbreaks. Common examples include certain rodents for hantavirus or bats for viruses like Ebola. Understanding reservoir hosts is important for disease control and prevention, as it helps identify sources of infection and informs strategies to reduce the spread of infectious diseases.