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Which of the following is an example of an agent?

  1. Host resistance

  2. Virus

  3. Infectiousness

  4. Bug bite

The correct answer is: Virus

The example of an agent in the context of public health refers to any factor that can cause disease or health issues. In this case, a virus is a specific type of agent known to be a pathogenic microorganism that can infect a host and lead to various diseases. Agents like viruses are involved in the etiology of infectious diseases, which means they are a central component in understanding the spread and control of diseases. Each virus has particular characteristics that allow it to invade host cells and replicate, causing illness. Host resistance refers to the ability of an individual host to mount a defense against infection, while infectiousness describes the capacity of an agent to spread from one individual to another. A bug bite is a method of transmission but not an agent itself. Thus, the virus stands out as a clear representation of an agent in the context of disease causation.