What is a communicable disease?

A communicable disease is one that is spread from one person to another through a variety of ways
that include: contact with blood and bodily fluids; breathing in an airborne virus; or by being bitten by
an insect.

Reporting of cases of communicable disease is important in the planning and evaluation of disease
prevention and control programs, in the assurance of appropriate medical therapy, and in the
detection of common-source outbreaks. California law mandates healthcare providers and laboratories
to report over 80 diseases or conditions to their local health department. Some examples of the
reportable communicable diseases include Hepatitis A, B & C, influenza, measles, and salmonella and
other food borne illnesses.

pathogens
Disease causing microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, found commonly
in sewage, hospital waste, run-off water from farms, and in water used for swimming.
Most pathogens are parasites (live off the host) and the diseases they cause are an
indirect result of their obtaining food from, or shelter in, the host. Larger parasites (such
as worms) and not called pathogens.

Types of Pathogens

Typically, pathogens fall into one of the following four categories:

Viruses: These microscopic infectious agents require a living host to replicate and thrive. Viruses
accomplish this by entering the human body and invading a cell where they copy themselves and
then spread to other cells. Examples of viruses range from mild illnesses like the common cold and
stomach flu to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C.

Bacteria: While many bacteria do not cause disease and therefore are not pathogens, some of these
microscopic organisms, which usually appear in shape as rods, spirals, or spheres. Bacteria are
usually larger in size than viruses, and people are more susceptible to a bacterial infection after their
immune system has already been weakened due to a virus. Examples of bacterial infections include
strep throat, meningitis, and food poisoning.

Fungi: Yeast, mold, and mushrooms are all types of fungi that can cause disease in humans.

Fungi are eukaryotes, meaning their cells contain a nucleus along with other components that are
enclosed within membranes. This means that it is harder to kill them and most medications available
are less effective than, for example, antibiotics while also causing more side effects to the person
taking them.

Examples of fungal infections include ringworm, histoplasmosis, and vaginal yeast infections.
Parasites: These organisms inhabit a host and gets its energy (food) from that host, often causing
illness in the process. The three main types of parasites that cause human disease are protozoa,
helminths, and ectoparasites. Examples of parasites causing human illness are tapeworm (which
causes digestive illness), ticks (which cause Lyme disease), and plasmodium (which causes malaria).