A single infected cell can spread infection throughout the body and to other organisms. If a cell is infected by a virus, it will reproduce and spread the infection to surrounding tissues. As more tissues become infected, organs and organ systems will also become infected, eventually infecting the entire organism. An infected person can then transmit the infection through contact with others, allowing it to potentially spread worldwide among humans and other species. Though small, a single infected cell has the ability to broadly impact living things from the individual level to the global scale.