# Explain why diseases caused by viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics.

> Eduqas GCSE Biology — 3.2 Communicable disease · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Antibiotics kill/inhibit bacteria (not viruses)
2. Viruses are not living cells / viruses are not bacteria
3. Viruses reproduce/replicate inside host cells
4. Antibiotics cannot enter host cells / cannot reach the virus inside the cell

## Key terms

- [antibiotics](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/antibiotics)
- [viruses](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/viruses)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas GCSE Biology](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-diseases-caused-by-viruses-15fe98e8) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.