Which method of disease transmission involves contact with contaminated surfaces?

Transmission on fomites is the correct response because it specifically refers to the spread of disease via inanimate objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with infectious agents. Fomites can include a wide range of items, such as equipment, clothing, bedding, and other materials that may harbor pathogens after being in contact with an infected individual or fluid. When susceptible animals or humans come into contact with these contaminated surfaces, they can acquire the disease.

In contrast, transmission through aerosols involves the inhalation of infectious particles that are suspended in the air, requiring respiratory exposure rather than surface contact. Direct transmission typically occurs through the immediate transfer of pathogens from one host to another, such as through bites or direct physical contact, rather than through intermediary surfaces. Vertical transmission refers to the transmission of pathogens from a mother to her offspring, which usually happens during pregnancy or through breastfeeding, again not involving contaminated surfaces at all.