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
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 known, but the MMR vaccine offers highly effective protection.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
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
High among their concerns are declining vaccination rates resulting in outbreaks of contagious diseases like pertussis — also known as whooping cough — and measles, a disease the United States declared eradicated in 2000.
—Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
After Monarez's termination, resignation letters followed from CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry and top officials for immunization and contagious diseases.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
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 known, but the MMR vaccine offers highly effective protection.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
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
High among their concerns are declining vaccination rates resulting in outbreaks of contagious diseases like pertussis — also known as whooping cough — and measles, a disease the United States declared eradicated in 2000.
—Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
After Monarez's termination, resignation letters followed from CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry and top officials for immunization and contagious diseases.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contagious diseases
Noun
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The development of antibiotics, vaccines and advanced surgical techniques has virtually eliminated many diseases that once killed thousands annually.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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McLaughlin said the company chose to focus on these diseases partly because of their outsized impact on patients.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 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 3 Feb. 2026.
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