Objects or surfaces that harbor disease-causing microorganisms and can transmit infection when touched; plural of 'fomes'.
From Latin 'fomes' meaning tinder, fuel, or kindling. Medical terminology adopted this term metaphorically because germs 'kindle' disease like fire kindling spreads flame.
During the COVID pandemic, 'fomes' became a household word—doctors realized we obsessed over touching surfaces (doorknobs, packages) because the ancient Latin metaphor of germs as 'fire kindling' felt so intuitively right.
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