Step 1: Disease Transmission.
Diseases can spread through various modes such as water, food, air, or direct contact. Airborne diseases are transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosols that are inhaled by others.
Step 2: Airborne Diseases.
Smallpox is an infectious disease caused by the variola virus, which is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
Step 3: Why Other Diseases are Not Airborne.
- (A) Cholera: Cholera is a waterborne disease, primarily transmitted through contaminated water.
- (B) Plague: Plague is caused by bacteria and primarily spread through flea bites, though pneumonic plague can be airborne.
- (D) Rickets: Rickets is caused by Vitamin D deficiency and is not an infectious disease.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Smallpox is the correct answer because it is the only disease listed here that is predominantly spread through the air.