as in infections
sickness that can be passed from one person, plant, or animal to another
Parents are advised to vaccinate their children against contagious diseases.
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Recent Examples of contagious diseases
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, spreading easily through air droplets, liable to infect up to 90% of unvaccinated people nearby.
—
Katie Silver, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026
Measles, among the most contagious diseases, is typically the first to infect undervaccinated communities and serves as a warning that other scourges will follow.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
Researchers consider measles among the most contagious diseases, and the virus may remain active for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.
—Andrew Jones, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
Researchers consider measles among the most contagious diseases, and the virus may remain active for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.
—Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
Researchers consider measles among the most contagious diseases, and the virus may remain active for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.
—Andrew Jones, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Immigration detainees are subjected to mold on walls, contagious diseases, a lack of medical care and a lack of clean water and food at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County, a lawsuit filed Monday against federal officials alleges.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Coverage for key vaccines such as MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) and polio has dropped below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks of highly contagious diseases like measles.
—A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
Katie Silver, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026
Measles, among the most contagious diseases, is typically the first to infect undervaccinated communities and serves as a warning that other scourges will follow.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
Researchers consider measles among the most contagious diseases, and the virus may remain active for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.
—Andrew Jones, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
Researchers consider measles among the most contagious diseases, and the virus may remain active for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.
—Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
Researchers consider measles among the most contagious diseases, and the virus may remain active for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.
—Andrew Jones, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Immigration detainees are subjected to mold on walls, contagious diseases, a lack of medical care and a lack of clean water and food at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County, a lawsuit filed Monday against federal officials alleges.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Coverage for key vaccines such as MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) and polio has dropped below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks of highly contagious diseases like measles.
—A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious diseases
Noun
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The pair is part of a community of caregivers and their clients in Atlanta who experience the arts together as a way to manage the stress and impact of cognitive diseases.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Hair loss can be caused by genetics, hormones, age, or underlying medical conditions (like some autoimmune diseases).—
Nicole Hernandez,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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All viruses change over time – and the type of virus that causes COVID-19 does so especially quickly.—
Kyle B. Enfield,
The Conversation,
28 Mar. 2026
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All the vaccines available for children this year protect against three different influenza viruses (two A viruses and one B virus).—
Dr. Kristina Bryant,
Boston Herald,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contagious diseases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagious%20diseases. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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