Which word- contagious or infectious?

An infectious disease is contagious when it spreads through direct, bodily contact with an infected person, their discharges, or an object or surface they’ve contaminated. This transmission is typically very easy and results from close, casual contact. Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite, but it is not contagious because you don’t get it just by being around or coming into contact with an infected person. It’s usually transmitted by a mosquito bite, which transfers the parasite from the mosquito into your blood. 

Tetanus is an infectious disease, but it’s not contagious because you don’t get it by shaking hands with someone who has the infection. Like malaria, it has to enter your bloodstream, such as by getting cut by a rusty nail, where the tetanus-causing bacteria can breed. 

 

Contagious and its related noun, contagion, were first recorded around 1350–1400 AD Both go back to the Latin contāgiō, “touching, contact; infection.” The origin of the word contact is also related to contāgiō. A contagious disease is spread by contact. 

Is the Coronavirus contagious?

Let’s apply what we’ve learned. We know COVID-19 is a disease caused by an infection from a virus, a new type of coronavirus. This infection very easily spreads by direct and casual contact with a person, droplets, and infected surfaces. So, we can say COVID-19 is indeed a contagious disease. That’s why we are staying at home and social-distancing the best we can! It’s also why washing your hands is so important—not only for COVID-19, but for other contagious and infectious diseases, as well as for your general health and hygiene.

Why is the word CONTAGIOUS important? 

 

In everyday settings, the distinction between contagious and infectious often breaks down. Oftentimes, that’s just fine: contagious and infectious, very generally, can refer to a disease that tends to spread from one person to another. We use the terms figuratively, too. Contagious laughter might spread across a classroom after the class clown cracks a perfectly timed joke. Or, low morale might be said to be contagious in an office after layoffs have been announced. If someone has an infectious smile, it’s simply irresistible. Infectious, in its metaphorical sense, tends to have a positive connotation. Contagious can be positive or negative, though it might skew toward the latter. But, if contagious and infectious are sometimes used interchangeably, why do we need to make a distinction between them at all? In some instances, especially in public health emergencies, it’s important we call out that a disease isn’t just infectious, but that it is contagious. Calling a disease contagious highlights the fact that it very easily spreads by being around people and public places—in our very normal life circumstances. This can help influence and guide behaviours to help prevent ourselves and others from getting infected, whether it’s getting a yearly flu shot or practicing social distancing. 

 

Source: Dictionary.com

 

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For The English Front

Vivek Tripathi