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Public Health & Epidemiology vocabulary · Outbreaks and Transmission

Communicable disease

Meaning in public health & epidemiology, with examples

nounCore term

In public health & epidemiology, communicable disease means: An illness caused by a microorganism, such as a virus, bacterium or parasite, that can pass from one person or animal to another.

In Turkish: bulaşıcı hastalık

How it is used

The usual term in public health agencies and laws: communicable disease control, communicable disease surveillance. 'Infectious disease' is very close in meaning and more common in clinical medicine. The opposite is a noncommunicable disease.

Example sentences

  1. She leads the communicable disease team at the provincial health directorate.

  2. Communicable diseases still cause many deaths among young children in poorer countries.

Common collocations

  • communicable disease control
  • communicable disease surveillance
  • communicable disease team
  • infectious disease
  • noncommunicable diseaseA long-lasting illness that is not passed from person to person, such as heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease or diabetes.
  • transmissionThe passing of an infection from one person, animal or source to another, for example through the air, by touch, through food and water or by insects.
  • notifiable diseaseA disease that doctors and laboratories are required by law to report to public health authorities whenever they diagnose or suspect it.
  • zoonosisAn infectious disease that passes from animals to humans, such as rabies, brucellosis or avian influenza.

More terms: Outbreaks and Transmission

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.