Viral meningitis is commonly spread via which route?

• A. Direct contact with infected nose/throat discharges or feces
• B. Blood transfusion
• C. Mosquito bites
• D. Sexual contact

Answer: (A)

Viral meningitis is most often caused by enteroviruses, which spread mainly through the fecal-oral route or through respiratory secretions. The typical route is direct contact with infected nose/throat discharges or with feces—think of hand-to-mouth transmission after someone sneezes or after touching contaminated surfaces, or ingesting contaminated water or food. Enteroviruses are shed in stool for extended periods and are highly contagious, especially in settings with close contact.

Blood transfusion or sexual contact aren’t the usual ways this illness is transmitted, and while some viruses that can cause meningitis (through other syndromes) might be spread by mosquitoes, those routes are not the common mechanism for the typical viral meningitis cases.