Bacterial and viral diseases in humans: TB, cholera, Helicobacter and Ebola
I can describe examples of common bacterial and viral diseases in humans, how they are spread, and ways to reduce the spread.
Bacterial and viral diseases in humans: TB, cholera, Helicobacter and Ebola
I can describe examples of common bacterial and viral diseases in humans, how they are spread, and ways to reduce the spread.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Some, but not all, bacteria are pathogens that can cause communicable diseases in humans.
- Pathogenic bacteria produce toxins that damage living tissue and cause disease.
- Cholera, TB and Helicobacter stomach ulcers as example; how they are spread, and how the spread can be reduced.
- Viruses invade cells to reproduce where they cause damage to cells.
- Ebola as an example of a viral disease; how it is spread, and how the spread can be reduced.
Keywords
Bacteria - single celled prokaryotes
Pathogen - a microorganism that causes disease
Communicable disease - a disease that can be spread from one organism to another
Toxin - a poison made by bacteria
Virus - an infectious agent
Common misconception
Pupils may believe that viruses are alive.
Viruses are not cells. They do not carry out many of the processes of living organisms such as replication and respiration.
To help you plan your year 10 biology lesson on: Bacterial and viral diseases in humans: TB, cholera, Helicobacter and Ebola, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 biology lesson on: Bacterial and viral diseases in humans: TB, cholera, Helicobacter and Ebola, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 biology lessons from the Health and disease unit, dive into the full secondary biology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
None required.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Can be passed from person to person.
Cannot be spread from person.



A microorganism that causes disease.
An infectious agent.
A single celled prokaryote.
Exit quiz
6 Questions
Contaminated body fluids.
Contaminated food and water.
Mucus droplets from coughing.
