It is possible to contract respiratory illnesses such as the flu or colds, for example, by failing to wash your hands before touching your eyes, nose or mouth (i.e. mucous membranes).
Watu pia wanaweza kuambukizwa magonjwa ya kupumua kama vile homa ya mafua au homa ya kawaida, kwa mfano, iwapo hawataosha mikono yao kabla ya kugusa macho yao, pua au mdomo (yaani membreni zilizo na majimaji).