Definition

1. Noun:
   • A disease that can be transmitted from one infected person, animal, or source to another host: A communicable disease is an illness caused by an infectious agent (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites) that can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one living being to another.

Usage

• The term is used in medical, public health, and general contexts to categorize and discuss illnesses based on their transmissibility.
• It is often contrasted with non-communicable diseases (like heart disease or diabetes).

Examples

• Noun:
  • Measles is a highly communicable disease that spreads through the air.
  • Public health campaigns aim to control communicable diseases through vaccination and hygiene.
  • The hospital has a separate ward for patients with communicable diseases.

Advanced Usage

• "Notifiable communicable disease": A communicable disease that, by law, must be reported to public health authorities upon diagnosis.
  • Typhoid fever is a notifiable communicable disease in most countries.

Variants and Related Words

• Communicable (adj): Capable of being transmitted or communicated.
  • The virus is communicable for several days before symptoms appear.
• Non-communicable disease (n): A medical condition or disease that is not infectious and cannot be transmitted between people.
  • Cancer is a major non-communicable disease.

Synonyms

• Infectious disease: Often used interchangeably, though some technical definitions distinguish "infectious" (caused by an agent) from "communicable" (capable of spread).
• Contagious disease: Specifically implies ease of transmission from person to person.
• Transmissible disease: A more formal synonym.

Related Phrases

• Spread of communicable diseases: The process by which these diseases are transmitted.
  • International travel can accelerate the spread of communicable diseases.
• Communicable disease control: The field of public health focused on preventing and managing outbreaks.
  • She works in communicable disease control for the government.

Noun

1. a disease that can be communicated from one person to another