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.
—
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
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on the planet.
—Kathryn H. Jacobsen, The Conversation, 10 Nov. 2025
Splitting doses increases the risk that one will be skipped, reducing vaccination rates against these highly contagious diseases.
—Flavia Mangan Colgan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025
Monarez’s testimony will come a day before the agency’s influential vaccine panel plans to vote on whether to delay or restrict access to shots that protect children against potentially serious contagious diseases.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
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
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on the planet.
—Kathryn H. Jacobsen, The Conversation, 10 Nov. 2025
Splitting doses increases the risk that one will be skipped, reducing vaccination rates against these highly contagious diseases.
—Flavia Mangan Colgan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025
Monarez’s testimony will come a day before the agency’s influential vaccine panel plans to vote on whether to delay or restrict access to shots that protect children against potentially serious contagious diseases.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious diseases
Noun
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Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes mellitus — a group of diseases associated with high blood sugar, called hyperglycemia.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
27 Feb. 2026
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The process of pasteurization, heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time, kills harmful organisms responsible for diseases such as listeriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria, Q fever, and brucellosis, according to the FDA.—
GMA Team,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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And a third found that the medication may have a broader antiviral effect against other respiratory viruses, including the influenza virus.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contagious diseases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contagious%20diseases. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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