Catch This: Contagious Diseases 101
Contagious diseases are diseases that spread from one person to another, such as measles, SARS, or hepatitis A. Frequent handwashing is a good way to help prevent the spread of contagious diseases, but in some cases more drastic measures are needed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is the arm of the U.S. government responsible for tracking contagious diseases and trying to control or prevent outbreaks.
When the contagion is bacterial, antibiotics can kill the bacteria and thereby prevent the spread of disease. The CDC recommends two strategies to manage contagious diseases:
- Quarantine: Quarantine is for someone who has been exposed to an infectious disease but may or may not be sick. Someone under quarantine may be asked to remain at home to avoid infecting others; he or she will receive special care and monitoring for early signs of illness.
- Isolation: Isolation is for someone who has been exposed to an infectious disease and has become ill. Special precautions are taken when caring for someone with a contagious disease to protect uninfected people from getting sick.
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