Is strep throat contagious?

Strep throat is indeed a contagious illness primarily caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes. It spreads through close contact with an infected individual, most commonly via airborne droplets. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they release these droplets into the air, which can then be inhaled by someone nearby. Additionally, it can also be spread by sharing food or drinks with someone who has the infection, but the primary mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets.

While there are other modes of transmission for various infections, for strep throat specifically, the aforementioned mechanism is the most significant. Understanding this helps highlight the importance of preventive measures, such as good hand hygiene and avoiding close contact with infected individuals, to control the spread of strep throat.