Infectious and Contagious
Terry from Suttons Bay wrote
“I have seen measles described as infectious in one magazine article and
contagious in another. Are the words identical?”
There are slight but real differences between the
two words. Contagious comes from a Latin root that means touch, so a contagious
disease implies contact with a patient. An infectious disease spreads via a
micro-organism, so direct contact is not necessary. If the environment is
contaminated, the infection can spread.
For example, allergies and botulism are infectious, but not contagious. You can’t get them by touching another person. But measles, on the other hand, is contagious. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, most of the people who come in contact with the patient will get the disease unless they are immune.
For example, allergies and botulism are infectious, but not contagious. You can’t get them by touching another person. But measles, on the other hand, is contagious. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, most of the people who come in contact with the patient will get the disease unless they are immune.
Measles is also infectious. It can be present in the
environment after the patient has left the room. If the infected person coughed or
sneezed, the measles virus can survive in the air or on surfaces for up to two
hours.
So wash your hands!
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