Sometimes a small number of people with an infection can be highly contagious to others. The impact of one such person can be much greater than expected.
Super spreaders in history: Typhoid Mary (Mary Mallon)
Super-spreaders:
(1) may have no or few symptoms
(2) may release micro-organisms that are maximally infectious to others
(3) may have contact with many susceptible people
(4) may have a persistent infection either due to adaptation by the organism or a defect in host defenses
(5) may be in an environment that is conducive to spread of an infection
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