A surgeon treats a patient with Gastroenteritis, fails to change gloves and then, while asymptomatic themself, prepares food for a family event and several family members become ill. Which carrier type best describes the surgeon?

Passive carrier—uninfected (or not actively shedding) individual who mechanically transmits pathogens on hands or clothing.

Asymptomatic active carrier—infected person shedding pathogen internally via stool or secretions but without externally contaminated hands or clothing as the main route.

Environmental reservoir—the food itself served as the reservoir and the surgeon was neither contaminated nor responsible for transmission.

Active symptomatic carrier—infected person shedding large quantities of pathogen in bodily fluids and causing spread through respiratory droplets.