A 33-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a fever of 102.5°F, facial palsy, headache, and malaise. A circular maculopapular rash was identified on the patients left shoulder; the patient was unaware of the rash. The patient likely acquired the above infection via which of the following routes?

  •  Direct contact with fomite
  •  Respiratory route
  •   Sexual contact
  •  Consumption of contaminated food
  •  Arthropod vector